tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21632785168037570572018-03-11T06:13:45.341-06:00Amy Lilley DesignsWith a background in Fine Arts, my eye is well trained to notice the smallest of details. Photography is a passion. With the advent of the digital age, I use that same trained eye through the monitor of my digital camera, from macro shots to sweeping landscapes while enjoying the full range of editing.Amy Lilley Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10907512787759970646noreply@blogger.comBlogger689125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2163278516803757057.post-50565566041969049852018-03-02T16:07:00.000-07:002018-03-02T20:28:43.678-07:00A Joyful Announcement!!<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yoFZpcA3JiY/WpnQztjFxZI/AAAAAAAAJFQ/pI5nzdZN4Y0EhSwuYFlYE0EKTf3ZKoH0ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG-3422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1440" height="298" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yoFZpcA3JiY/WpnQztjFxZI/AAAAAAAAJFQ/pI5nzdZN4Y0EhSwuYFlYE0EKTf3ZKoH0ACLcBGAs/s400/IMG-3422.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">I received an Instagram message around mid-December from The Marina at Cherry Creek saying that they loved my photos, the Pelicans, to be specific, and that they would like to hang some of the pics in the Lake House event center. Well, earlier this week, I met with Erik Dyce, the CEO of Vencore Marine Group, and we have agreed to partner up. I am excited about this new adventure/venture and to see my photography being displayed (and sold) in such a beautiful venue.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A statement from Erik:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://themarinaatcherrycreek.com/cherry-creek-state-park-2/">'Pelican Bay at Cherry Creek in Cherry Creek State Park</a> is delighted to partner with Amy Lilley – renowned photographer who has brought her unique talents to Colorado.&nbsp; Her intimate relationship with the White Pelican, native to Cherry Creek Reservoir, is a stunning study in art and the science of this unique bird.&nbsp; Pelican Bay is named for these magnificent creatures who feature wing spans up to six feet. At any given time you may see well over 100 Pelicans at The Marina at Pelican Bay, perched on the breakwater around the Marina, or out in the Stump Area on the South side of the Reservoir. Their sweet group behavior is something to witness.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Amy’s photos will be featured in and around Pelican Bay at Cherry Creek as well as for sale at certain select events.&nbsp; We welcome these treasures and so should you!'</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QfaX-kO9d40/WpnJ5W8jd-I/AAAAAAAAJEI/AxbdAfXx688DoU9VW1w86ONvs516PjisACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG-0919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1440" height="298" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QfaX-kO9d40/WpnJ5W8jd-I/AAAAAAAAJEI/AxbdAfXx688DoU9VW1w86ONvs516PjisACLcBGAs/s400/IMG-0919.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lake House and Marina...from the park side.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lcwKCIEF-y8/WpnJ-enYOtI/AAAAAAAAJEM/lwacODc6mqcNPCKzzqn_7YP8KgkGWszwgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG-0950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lcwKCIEF-y8/WpnJ-enYOtI/AAAAAAAAJEM/lwacODc6mqcNPCKzzqn_7YP8KgkGWszwgCLcBGAs/s400/IMG-0950.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lake House from the kayak..</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hd6413pnjNY/WpnKHRLnzSI/AAAAAAAAJEQ/520bS0tGxLw_jnW2gZQ8W0cnvuJ7rC9fgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG-0486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hd6413pnjNY/WpnKHRLnzSI/AAAAAAAAJEQ/520bS0tGxLw_jnW2gZQ8W0cnvuJ7rC9fgCLcBGAs/s400/IMG-0486.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And from waaaay across the far side of the lake, looking toward the Rockies and the Marina...</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-89UtnHXJ1Ew/WpnKIeL51XI/AAAAAAAAJEU/NaYlKbrBpCk-hgkw0-6YHGx3qBS2Xl9NQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG-1672.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1440" height="298" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-89UtnHXJ1Ew/WpnKIeL51XI/AAAAAAAAJEU/NaYlKbrBpCk-hgkw0-6YHGx3qBS2Xl9NQCLcBGAs/s400/IMG-1672.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another shot from the park side..&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GILN6ZDJXA8/WpnKLoq1h_I/AAAAAAAAJEY/bks21Prkc8s7MMaMaSkhz6yqaBl3W0CPwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG-4915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GILN6ZDJXA8/WpnKLoq1h_I/AAAAAAAAJEY/bks21Prkc8s7MMaMaSkhz6yqaBl3W0CPwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG-4915.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Up close at The Marina..</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CsaBFXPru2E/WpnKY_f7hcI/AAAAAAAAJEc/sdrJTr86OmoguOCWv5ZKcaN3_-82AKhmwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG-4920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CsaBFXPru2E/WpnKY_f7hcI/AAAAAAAAJEc/sdrJTr86OmoguOCWv5ZKcaN3_-82AKhmwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG-4920.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Although it looks different now, this is where it all started for me, with a simple kayak rental..</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-urzjCsJ0ys8/WpnKeay3eXI/AAAAAAAAJEk/JfbjmMlwuqQs8CPR-eGhKYjPd24-SAP8wCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG-5369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-urzjCsJ0ys8/WpnKeay3eXI/AAAAAAAAJEk/JfbjmMlwuqQs8CPR-eGhKYjPd24-SAP8wCLcBGAs/s400/IMG-5369.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Late December, The Marina..</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xzutU2Dj2t8/WpnKugf-3KI/AAAAAAAAJEs/8r8Yr6r0GugVLAhPTioBxFy3JROClaUbwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG-6694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xzutU2Dj2t8/WpnKugf-3KI/AAAAAAAAJEs/8r8Yr6r0GugVLAhPTioBxFy3JROClaUbwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG-6694.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last Winter as a storm was getting ready to blow in..</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sauoytTtAds/WpnLU0EpqRI/AAAAAAAAJFA/u-_WvAO7j-I1YF6ZZkrDh7QqWx251jkRgCLcBGAs/s1600/LRG-DSC06021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1070" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sauoytTtAds/WpnLU0EpqRI/AAAAAAAAJFA/u-_WvAO7j-I1YF6ZZkrDh7QqWx251jkRgCLcBGAs/s400/LRG-DSC06021.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://themarinaatcherrycreek.com/">The lovely entrance to The Lake House...taken today..</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">What is so amazing to me is that from a simple kayak rental 3 summers ago, to purchasing my own&nbsp; Pelican kayak and spending so much time on the lake, doing what I love to do...not just taking pics of the Pelicans, Herons, the turtles, fish and other wildlife, but spending all that quiet time on the lake, the activity of paddling when the lake was smooth as glass or in some very challenging weather situations, to creating the Pelican calendar, and then having Erik look at me and say, 'I have never seen anything like your work before.' Is this not what, as artists (all inclusive, writers, poets, actors, dancers, etc.,) we dream of? I acknowledged that this is a gift, the eye which has been given to me. So, this is my joyful announcement. I look forward to sharing with all of you, over the next few months, as the Pelicans find their rightful place all over The Lake House!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The morning after I met with Erik, I woke up, and the only thing I could think of was how much I wanted to call Mom, and I cried...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;'Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.'</div><div style="text-align: center;">James 1:17<br /><br /><a href="http://themarinaatcherrycreek.com/">Click here to link to The Marina at Pelican Bay</a></div>Amy Lilley Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10907512787759970646noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2163278516803757057.post-36101476274303213812018-02-20T17:49:00.000-07:002018-02-20T17:49:29.806-07:00It Happened!!!<div style="text-align: justify;">A quick follow-up from yesterdays post. We went to the park again today and spotted 2 of the eagles and I was able to get photos of each of them. However, this is what I posted a little over an hour ago on my Instagram feed:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">'For those of you who received my blog post yesterday, and may have read this sentence, ‘I want to do better. I want to capture an Eagle in full fight, full wing span’, and possibly prayed that this might happen, thank you, because IT HAPPENED!!! Just say the word...'</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hS5fg6XXr-M/Woy-6isoOnI/AAAAAAAAJDQ/Inf3N7vlTtM0BG-fyI_b0juVUMKu1lS8gCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG-7185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hS5fg6XXr-M/Woy-6isoOnI/AAAAAAAAJDQ/Inf3N7vlTtM0BG-fyI_b0juVUMKu1lS8gCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG-7185.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">'But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.'</div><div style="text-align: center;">Isaiah 40:31</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Be encouraged, answered prayers...</div><div style="text-align: center;">Humbled...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Amy Lilley Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10907512787759970646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2163278516803757057.post-43861531152820219232018-02-19T14:36:00.000-07:002018-02-19T14:36:09.067-07:00The Birds...<div style="text-align: justify;">I am jogged, my memory is jogged with my Timehop App. I am grateful for it because time is so abstract. Yesterday morning I was reminded that 3 years ago I saw and photographed my very first Eagle. I was stunned that 3 years and 3 cameras later, I was still chasing Eagles, but add to that list, Hawks, Woodpeckers, Blackbilled Magpie, and in the dead of winter, Blue Herons as well. The Eagles made their presence known around mid-October. Since then, I have taken quite a few pics which to me are simply jaw-dropping, well, because..Eagles!!! I keep on striving to do better thru the lens and the Eagles, Hawks and the rest of the wildlife, which at times is right outside my window, (like this morning, 3 coyotes, very bold and loud) challenge me daily. I am grateful for this as well. So, these are just a few from the past couple of months. I want to do better. I want to capture an Eagle in full fight, full wing span. The same with the Hawks. Once they spread their majestic wings, things move quickly. I need a tripod now. As long as I see forward motion, I'm good, it's a good thing...thank you nature many times over, every single day...I added a Mule deer and a Bunny at the end because they are both just so so so precious..no captions necessary today..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hY03deq1R_A/Wos97K7k4JI/AAAAAAAAJBg/gVXkmQRFYzIvUzCa86wn8323rKfuOxRAACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG-5147%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1016" data-original-width="1016" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hY03deq1R_A/Wos97K7k4JI/AAAAAAAAJBg/gVXkmQRFYzIvUzCa86wn8323rKfuOxRAACLcBGAs/s400/IMG-5147%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3trtcLN3vD4/Wos9-iF4MTI/AAAAAAAAJBk/fJ7g5t-OX9cxMb-zQapHHMn2-oQKSzXGACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG-4985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3trtcLN3vD4/Wos9-iF4MTI/AAAAAAAAJBk/fJ7g5t-OX9cxMb-zQapHHMn2-oQKSzXGACLcBGAs/s320/IMG-4985.JPG" width="256" /></a>&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UyiZj5EVtWY/Wos-H0IYm_I/AAAAAAAAJBs/evlAURswnOs_7f-eiJOq8HZlCl6uhSANwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG-5959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UyiZj5EVtWY/Wos-H0IYm_I/AAAAAAAAJBs/evlAURswnOs_7f-eiJOq8HZlCl6uhSANwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG-5959.JPG" width="400" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3dnYMLcz86s/Wos-KgO0vmI/AAAAAAAAJBw/wuVvqhLZlvszIRO97n3nJifNjfL9qJ1QACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG-6311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="808" data-original-width="808" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3dnYMLcz86s/Wos-KgO0vmI/AAAAAAAAJBw/wuVvqhLZlvszIRO97n3nJifNjfL9qJ1QACLcBGAs/s320/IMG-6311.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pkRfYd02YIw/Wos-OGxazzI/AAAAAAAAJB0/YTwlkE-i1u0c63NC9LIDd_iGkJQXMcEcACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG-6269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pkRfYd02YIw/Wos-OGxazzI/AAAAAAAAJB0/YTwlkE-i1u0c63NC9LIDd_iGkJQXMcEcACLcBGAs/s400/IMG-6269.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iOa5NB8VFz0/Wos-SjM3MyI/AAAAAAAAJB4/mBBFbwIdGe8ybe0lkWOllbuuGuM01STaACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG-6621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="829" data-original-width="829" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iOa5NB8VFz0/Wos-SjM3MyI/AAAAAAAAJB4/mBBFbwIdGe8ybe0lkWOllbuuGuM01STaACLcBGAs/s400/IMG-6621.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yL2JhRxzSg0/Wos-X_YbIsI/AAAAAAAAJB8/LAl5HvuZjScZt0WofLjWeqxApSb9CoFjwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG-6803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="724" data-original-width="724" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yL2JhRxzSg0/Wos-X_YbIsI/AAAAAAAAJB8/LAl5HvuZjScZt0WofLjWeqxApSb9CoFjwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG-6803.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tBi5lkLmma8/Wos-fJEbKVI/AAAAAAAAJCE/YXcL3U6D15QsgGWFrRHXlUOb-BXPyaL3gCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG-7127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tBi5lkLmma8/Wos-fJEbKVI/AAAAAAAAJCE/YXcL3U6D15QsgGWFrRHXlUOb-BXPyaL3gCLcBGAs/s400/IMG-7127.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m7fWQA9qLX0/Wos-ihG81OI/AAAAAAAAJCI/G6siT5BRvvorP0pQtaYL9-jZla9tt2sCwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG-7126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="985" data-original-width="985" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m7fWQA9qLX0/Wos-ihG81OI/AAAAAAAAJCI/G6siT5BRvvorP0pQtaYL9-jZla9tt2sCwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG-7126.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yED2Jj2rCmY/Wos-ljQSJEI/AAAAAAAAJCM/ArBerqksDbE2jXOl0Lm3sJ4bizwgDpmPACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG-7151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yED2Jj2rCmY/Wos-ljQSJEI/AAAAAAAAJCM/ArBerqksDbE2jXOl0Lm3sJ4bizwgDpmPACLcBGAs/s400/IMG-7151.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OF0reNftxsg/Wos-qTWVlJI/AAAAAAAAJCU/rvZTxG0KkisWxI1YDfOp5JK6Egl-XWSIQCLcBGAs/s1600/LRG-DSC03070.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OF0reNftxsg/Wos-qTWVlJI/AAAAAAAAJCU/rvZTxG0KkisWxI1YDfOp5JK6Egl-XWSIQCLcBGAs/s400/LRG-DSC03070.JPEG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VcmSJdXCw3I/Wos-y2LsvHI/AAAAAAAAJCc/80lRcVp-Kx0qXGIM3721QYTLZDwpmT7YwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG-6280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VcmSJdXCw3I/Wos-y2LsvHI/AAAAAAAAJCc/80lRcVp-Kx0qXGIM3721QYTLZDwpmT7YwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG-6280.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QOYWgfJHw0E/Wos-3GcNVcI/AAAAAAAAJCg/Om-fTl7T-XUr9I-axOLc5s6AyAJjVHB0wCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG-6203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QOYWgfJHw0E/Wos-3GcNVcI/AAAAAAAAJCg/Om-fTl7T-XUr9I-axOLc5s6AyAJjVHB0wCLcBGAs/s320/IMG-6203.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">‘Listen closely,</div><div style="text-align: center;">even the trees exhale their own sweet love songs that roll off their boughs and echo out to all of creation. Love is always in the air.’ Christen Rogers. I posted this poem on February 14th as it is true, every single day, love is always in the air.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">Pay attention....</div>Amy Lilley Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10907512787759970646noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2163278516803757057.post-62991946209970381752018-01-17T11:10:00.001-07:002018-01-17T12:27:38.125-07:00The Pelicans, 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4pzcH1YaHjo/Wl-LKXCEueI/AAAAAAAAI_o/b8DnailDr1EdFVg5FUKPDqlnrRj3XSJJACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG-6041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4pzcH1YaHjo/Wl-LKXCEueI/AAAAAAAAI_o/b8DnailDr1EdFVg5FUKPDqlnrRj3XSJJACLcBGAs/s400/IMG-6041.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Yes, I know it is January 17th and most of you have already purchased your 2018 calendars, but, here is another thought. I was so busy during the Holiday season matting and posting all 16 'REFLECTIONS" photos in my </span><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/572572284/the-pelicans-2018?ref=shop_home_active_1" style="text-align: justify;">Etsy shop</a><span style="text-align: justify;">, that I really put aside the notion of creating another calendar for 2018. That said, I could not bring myself to go to a store and purchase one, (because, #Ivegotstuff) so I did have 4 calendars made for my household from the same company, </span><a href="https://www.mixbook.com/" style="text-align: justify;">Mixbook</a><span style="text-align: justify;">, who did such a beautiful job with both 'REFLECTIONS' calendars. Who knew that I would have 12 totally 'doable' photos of THE PELICANS???? Well, once I received our copies, and saw how lighthearted and fun it is, I made some edits and ordered a few more! So, there is the thought. 'The Pelicans, 2018' calendar, is now listed in my Etsy shop,<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/572572284/the-pelicans-2018?ref=shop_home_active_1"> Lilleypics</a>!&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The calendar is spiral bound, with 12, 6 1/2”x10” rectangular photographs, housed in a 12”x12” square format. Printed on archival, high quality paper THE PELICANS pop out with all of their personality!! I took photos of these most entertaining birds from my kayak on the lovely 850 acre lake in Cherry Creek State Park in Colorado! I have slashed the Priority shipping charges in 1/2!!</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kNHSYUOJlj4/Wl-L_BckXQI/AAAAAAAAJAE/km96EFlUzDIxfzy_IEejyFgj3-rOUA1KACEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG-3518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="823" data-original-width="1404" height="233" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kNHSYUOJlj4/Wl-L_BckXQI/AAAAAAAAJAE/km96EFlUzDIxfzy_IEejyFgj3-rOUA1KACEwYBhgL/s400/IMG-3518.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cover photo!</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QJJ1TOkO6C0/Wl-MJrYwg7I/AAAAAAAAJAE/IAfBLoAmPwsmjoK9U9_oDu8SbKS-W6WDgCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG-6128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QJJ1TOkO6C0/Wl-MJrYwg7I/AAAAAAAAJAE/IAfBLoAmPwsmjoK9U9_oDu8SbKS-W6WDgCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG-6128.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">January, February, March...</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_OYrnyeANVA/Wl-MQJceB_I/AAAAAAAAJAM/itPrDgAlYrsEAuqmqb6fj7LdZIKBXSepACEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG-6129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_OYrnyeANVA/Wl-MQJceB_I/AAAAAAAAJAM/itPrDgAlYrsEAuqmqb6fj7LdZIKBXSepACEwYBhgL/s400/IMG-6129.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">April, May, June...</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aeFOPtjzzoM/Wl-MZl8lLCI/AAAAAAAAJAQ/SBPxiQC8R6YuCxmaQbAQOz0bmlAvuw_BACEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG-6130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aeFOPtjzzoM/Wl-MZl8lLCI/AAAAAAAAJAQ/SBPxiQC8R6YuCxmaQbAQOz0bmlAvuw_BACEwYBhgL/s400/IMG-6130.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">July, August, September...</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jMnnBmYldaY/Wl-MhAMAsxI/AAAAAAAAJAI/l3njnimzJVgrOQV4G1_RyBQ52nwKE2mnwCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG-6131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jMnnBmYldaY/Wl-MhAMAsxI/AAAAAAAAJAI/l3njnimzJVgrOQV4G1_RyBQ52nwKE2mnwCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG-6131.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">October, November, December...</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/572572284/the-pelicans-2018?ref=shop_home_active_1">Click here to link to Lilleypics</a></div>Amy Lilley Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10907512787759970646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2163278516803757057.post-72834788216895912422017-12-06T10:48:00.000-07:002017-12-06T11:33:36.115-07:00REFLECTIONS, The Collection<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X53nZxiJntw/WiglopxOcoI/AAAAAAAAI7Y/nhRaJLVe_u8mCy8swYlYN8yWMvgMFz2xQCLcBGAs/s400/IMG-4899.JPG" width="400" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So many of you asked when I presented the 'REFLECTIONS' calendars last Spring and Autumn, can I buy a card, can I buy just one photo?? Well, now, the answer to one of those questions, is a resounding YES! I have compiled all 16 photos into the 'REFLECTIONS' Collection, selling each one individually, in my Etsy shop, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/Lilleypics">Lilleypics</a>!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Each photo is double matted, the cover matte is a Solar White, or bright white, and the secondary matte is Polar White, which is a shade darker, giving each of the photos depth. The greatest challenge I faced listing all of these pictures was taking a photo of a photo AND getting that bright white matte to read as bright. Each photo is backed with foam core and ready to be framed or to be enjoyed 'as is'. The dimension of each matted photo is 14 3/8" square, so, not small!<br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ObQgl1QKYEM/WigoE7jvjZI/AAAAAAAAI7k/gbKamPxHMGsH2l5g0MpvCq2FlqxdBaE7gCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG-4895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ObQgl1QKYEM/WigoE7jvjZI/AAAAAAAAI7k/gbKamPxHMGsH2l5g0MpvCq2FlqxdBaE7gCLcBGAs/s400/IMG-4895.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/Lilleypics">July, August, August II, September II</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gIvaSJ-Wauk/WigoLYT0YJI/AAAAAAAAI7o/6xzP2XiKx0UWJshjKpaAQWvTarWrkwDSQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG-4896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gIvaSJ-Wauk/WigoLYT0YJI/AAAAAAAAI7o/6xzP2XiKx0UWJshjKpaAQWvTarWrkwDSQCLcBGAs/s400/IMG-4896.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/Lilleypics">June II, April, March, May</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--QKRK5yuxOA/WigoezatwRI/AAAAAAAAI7s/4VSS8dwK1i4XNkq1oqNAp2lG8id5UjVNwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG-4897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--QKRK5yuxOA/WigoezatwRI/AAAAAAAAI7s/4VSS8dwK1i4XNkq1oqNAp2lG8id5UjVNwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG-4897.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/Lilleypics">June, February II, January, October</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dB4neNYVOC0/WigomwaAzwI/AAAAAAAAI70/MbQRVZcHJjIguOQ_1tB_RRxFjyH3D8y3wCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG-4898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dB4neNYVOC0/WigomwaAzwI/AAAAAAAAI70/MbQRVZcHJjIguOQ_1tB_RRxFjyH3D8y3wCLcBGAs/s400/IMG-4898.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/Lilleypics">September, November, February, December</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">I discovered that I can ship PRIORITY, as the difference between 'regualar' shipping and PRIORITY, for one print is pennies!! All photos are linked to the Etsy shop, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/Lilleypics">Lilleypics</a>, just click on the highlighted type and enjoy!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Colorado, the gift that keeps on giving!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">“If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves.” Thomas A. Edison</div>Amy Lilley Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10907512787759970646noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2163278516803757057.post-9524578972668491412017-11-28T13:53:00.001-07:002017-11-28T17:12:17.862-07:00Scout...<div style="text-align: justify;">Scout. She is our new 4-legged Family member. We adopted her on August 6th from <a href="http://www.ddfl.org/?utm_expid=9592889-7.Bl3B5irIThesqyZCHx-Bjg.0&amp;utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F">Dumb Friends League in Denver</a>. She was 11 weeks old, tiny tiny tiny. She was the only kitten we looked at that day. The Girl had been gone since late May, and I was just not happy being without a cat/kitten. I was ready even though the house was clean as a whistle, I was sorely missing a having feline around. The Boys were on board.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bSd4XzDYxdU/Wh261b8ThII/AAAAAAAAI4Q/mRNoYgbYZXUa5Ow2AfBmp-Nq1IgjRYvcQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG-2520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bSd4XzDYxdU/Wh261b8ThII/AAAAAAAAI4Q/mRNoYgbYZXUa5Ow2AfBmp-Nq1IgjRYvcQCLcBGAs/s320/IMG-2520.JPG" width="256" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I don't understand it, I have seen it often on social media: 'Help me to name my baby, help me to name my dog or cat or my mascot.' On occasion, I would throw out the name of Scout, although it was never chosen. So, even before we brought her home, (certainly, Scout would have worked for a male as well) she had a name. And, YES, I named her after the character of the 6 year old, 'Scout' from Harper Lee's remarkable book published in 1960, and in 1962, the equally remarkable movie, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Kill_a_Mockingbird">To Kill a Mockingbird</a>. I even watched the movie again on Netflix, to remind myself why Scout was so stuck in my heart, and fell in-love once more with the innocence of a little girl who did not see the color of people's skin, but was able to see straight to a persons soul. So, her name, Scout, was officially sealed!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kvwRmAkwE1M/Wh3CAG0jlRI/AAAAAAAAI4g/xB57m-DOk2ozMaJQ4Nn4Ob0uYftQ1xP6ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG-2722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kvwRmAkwE1M/Wh3CAG0jlRI/AAAAAAAAI4g/xB57m-DOk2ozMaJQ4Nn4Ob0uYftQ1xP6ACLcBGAs/s320/IMG-2722.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">This little kitty grew SO FAST, I call her, Miss Scout, the giant kitten. I am so so so glad to have these pics of her because now, she is 6 months old, still very much a kitten, but just<i> really big! </i>I forgot. I forgot what it was like to have a kitten, a baby animal in the house. At one point during that first week, I was so exhausted, I handed her over to Edward and said, here, YOU play with her. She was coming out of the gate at a thousand miles an hour and then falling into that deep 'kitten sleep!'</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tfsDwKWtdzo/Wh3Da3h2P5I/AAAAAAAAI4s/o3M3zgCQcP8xHA-1aChvyMUz0ZvDR96mACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG-2547%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tfsDwKWtdzo/Wh3Da3h2P5I/AAAAAAAAI4s/o3M3zgCQcP8xHA-1aChvyMUz0ZvDR96mACLcBGAs/s320/IMG-2547%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="256" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">She is fearless, sweet, funny, very outgoing, a hunter/stalker, physically very strong. She has developed a different relationship with each of us, which is makes sense. She also filled a space in my heart, our hearts, which was missing. In many many ways we are still getting to know her, and she, us, but like any long term relationship, it's just going to unfold naturally as we go! So, Scout, the giant kitten, in the house!!!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lqPFmbLwlPs/Wh3G1ELscNI/AAAAAAAAI5Q/nef3WxPuPqc0uRX3oftLdINRSikPEjZCgCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG-3282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lqPFmbLwlPs/Wh3G1ELscNI/AAAAAAAAI5Q/nef3WxPuPqc0uRX3oftLdINRSikPEjZCgCEwYBhgL/s320/IMG-3282.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9tvL3tlnPyw/Wh3G7b6dfLI/AAAAAAAAI5Q/DgM3eD3fNGg40i-JsxmUaqYPj1YBzs1jgCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG-3345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9tvL3tlnPyw/Wh3G7b6dfLI/AAAAAAAAI5Q/DgM3eD3fNGg40i-JsxmUaqYPj1YBzs1jgCEwYBhgL/s320/IMG-3345.JPG" width="256" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AHdiqLHHNqE/Wh3IPCEo_RI/AAAAAAAAI5Y/Rumg9F8-SCA9wPaz95rVjiliuWH0l2UIACEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG-3537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AHdiqLHHNqE/Wh3IPCEo_RI/AAAAAAAAI5Y/Rumg9F8-SCA9wPaz95rVjiliuWH0l2UIACEwYBhgL/s320/IMG-3537.JPG" width="256" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TGksDldK2UQ/Wh3HICCeQzI/AAAAAAAAI5E/UyUwDnxV5OwdKYCqmmHE18-oMKg8ZYgXACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG-3590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TGksDldK2UQ/Wh3HICCeQzI/AAAAAAAAI5E/UyUwDnxV5OwdKYCqmmHE18-oMKg8ZYgXACLcBGAs/s320/IMG-3590.JPG" width="256" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XQcZDwoxUkM/Wh3HLFaaLZI/AAAAAAAAI5I/arPZ1Sm9xXABjZyK2bJysiWJfjQCtrc-ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG-4019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="1600" height="231" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XQcZDwoxUkM/Wh3HLFaaLZI/AAAAAAAAI5I/arPZ1Sm9xXABjZyK2bJysiWJfjQCtrc-ACLcBGAs/s320/IMG-4019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vDlxF8VcZbY/Wh3HPZxU2hI/AAAAAAAAI5M/CRrdkOcViMMgvwPiJNeJUhtv2mN5T6SBACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG-4547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vDlxF8VcZbY/Wh3HPZxU2hI/AAAAAAAAI5M/CRrdkOcViMMgvwPiJNeJUhtv2mN5T6SBACLcBGAs/s320/IMG-4547.JPG" width="256" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PvsoDz3zg88/Wh3K1HT6LLI/AAAAAAAAI5k/oKIME1YeS40pn1RDTRCXlym9fP970p0jgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG-2114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PvsoDz3zg88/Wh3K1HT6LLI/AAAAAAAAI5k/oKIME1YeS40pn1RDTRCXlym9fP970p0jgCLcBGAs/s320/IMG-2114.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Who knows, she may need a little feline friend to play with...to be continued..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Amy Lilley Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10907512787759970646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2163278516803757057.post-39524193405239477212017-08-07T15:59:00.000-06:002017-08-07T20:13:14.316-06:00The Garden, the Beginning and the Middle...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C066h7dYSic/WYjDDFVUX0I/AAAAAAAAIy0/ohgvcabZAC8PTFc0f9TgrEDNPSlVV83cwCEwYBhgL/s1600/FullSizeRender%2B%252830%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1246" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C066h7dYSic/WYjDDFVUX0I/AAAAAAAAIy0/ohgvcabZAC8PTFc0f9TgrEDNPSlVV83cwCEwYBhgL/s400/FullSizeRender%2B%252830%2529.jpg" width="310" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">August 4 early evening light...</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">I pulled the terra cotta planters out the day after we said good-bye to The Girl, which as you can see/read, continues to be a reference point for me. It was the last week of May, which is 'on schedule' for 'planting on or before Memorial Day'. I knew it would be therapeutic and I am not a newbie to planting, so the timing could not have been better. It was a group effort. The Boys, once again did all the heavy lifting with the many cubits of soil we bought, to the large burlap bag full of mulch we picked up at Whole Foods for free, along with &nbsp;the emptying out of last years soil from the 3 tiered raised garden bed. It was allot of soil! The many many many decisions later of what to plant, which &nbsp;I found out yet again, carries the high possibility of things changing once everything is in the soil. For example, squirrels eating the strawberry flowers, or moving some plants around before rooting, etc., during those first critical couple of weeks. We have a wonderful garden center near us called Tagawa Gardens. This year, I actually counted, and they had 13 varieties of basil alone!! I bought 5 varieties, all with the goal of filling up the freezer with pesto (last year I had 61 4oz. containers, some of which we are still using!!), while enjoying the fresh plucked herbs, basil well included, with the flat leaf parsley and cilantro for summer salads. I found 3 varieties of thyme as well, thinking ahead to lentil soup for the winter months. I planted 3 or 4 varieties of tomatoes, eggplant, acorn squash, cabbage, curly kale, sweet red, although the one which popped was green, peppers, and strawberries. I am not sure if the strawberries will ever happen because the cabbage leafs/leaves are so ginormous now, they get absolutely no sun. I am watching the tomatoes pop and it is amazing because it has turned into a veritable jungle. The tomatoes are strategically planted in the 3rd tier, where the soil is at its thickest/highest, so the roots can go deep to grow sturdy stems. The bamboo stakes I use are taller than me, and you can barely see them now, as the tomato vines grow taller and taller while I sleep. I am agog!! My concern lies with the eggplants, as they are flowering, but then the flowers are dying and not producing any eggplants. Last year I planted white eggplants and they were clearly eggplants by this time of 'the middle'. This year I planted the 'normal' purple variety, so, hmmmmm, jury is still out on what might happen. I am keeping a close eye on them. Anywho, it is my joy and delight to take care of the garden, pray that everything actually produces vegetables, hopefully have some food at the end, which I am more than happy to share the come harvest time. (Wish some of you lived closer!!!) Each year is different, as it should be, and I remain grateful to get my hands dirty, all the while, sacrificing manicures for the cause...</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lwSCVXzdlBE/WYjDZaA7yVI/AAAAAAAAIy0/qj0b3rQuFAYtUm0M1TxyhA7deEblFGlTQCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG-1310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lwSCVXzdlBE/WYjDZaA7yVI/AAAAAAAAIy0/qj0b3rQuFAYtUm0M1TxyhA7deEblFGlTQCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG-1310.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">May 28</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9owfxq8ws0Q/WYjDgmsHluI/AAAAAAAAIy0/zTVQdo9hiNcgeTGUBryssadtUnbw8VzEgCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG-1381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9owfxq8ws0Q/WYjDgmsHluI/AAAAAAAAIy0/zTVQdo9hiNcgeTGUBryssadtUnbw8VzEgCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG-1381.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">June 2</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d0-P_9gWVBQ/WYjDtA7swEI/AAAAAAAAIy0/yuv_vQAOOxMOq1paQfGqD_yVXiKVnQq9QCEwYBhgL/s1600/FullSizeRender%2B%252829%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1253" data-original-width="1600" height="312" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d0-P_9gWVBQ/WYjDtA7swEI/AAAAAAAAIy0/yuv_vQAOOxMOq1paQfGqD_yVXiKVnQq9QCEwYBhgL/s400/FullSizeRender%2B%252829%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">June 24</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bfdqJdfxlzU/WYjDyhoMoLI/AAAAAAAAIy0/iLUmIBF1um0yE16eqoyx7uPDj2M1CnUcACEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG-1898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1440" height="298" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bfdqJdfxlzU/WYjDyhoMoLI/AAAAAAAAIy0/iLUmIBF1um0yE16eqoyx7uPDj2M1CnUcACEwYBhgL/s400/IMG-1898.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">July 6</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-043X0CYQ8KA/WYjEBWdnrvI/AAAAAAAAIy0/x_xQN0A3rgY-vSWdhVdWQ8Yi7lCB_bDdwCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG-2175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-043X0CYQ8KA/WYjEBWdnrvI/AAAAAAAAIy0/x_xQN0A3rgY-vSWdhVdWQ8Yi7lCB_bDdwCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG-2175.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption">July 20</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FmVYkeS0cAE/WYjEFzCb5HI/AAAAAAAAIy0/Wv6OwVFMbq8oeWpv3pollYG3Qkpj-YpoQCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG-2094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1450" data-original-width="1450" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FmVYkeS0cAE/WYjEFzCb5HI/AAAAAAAAIy0/Wv6OwVFMbq8oeWpv3pollYG3Qkpj-YpoQCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG-2094.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eggplant flower...having issues, hmmmm..</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lKOzb1aZHRk/WYjEPWCIy3I/AAAAAAAAIy0/LI2s13UunO8RrtNEi9BIRASYIf3tEfqhACEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG-2259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1280" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lKOzb1aZHRk/WYjEPWCIy3I/AAAAAAAAIy0/LI2s13UunO8RrtNEi9BIRASYIf3tEfqhACEwYBhgL/s400/IMG-2259.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cabbage leafs/leaves...&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mb1K-kaDfBU/WYjEVo4lnzI/AAAAAAAAIy0/xNwVhjS30egwG8jDsr6TT7OD8fkzS9ZVwCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG-1991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mb1K-kaDfBU/WYjEVo4lnzI/AAAAAAAAIy0/xNwVhjS30egwG8jDsr6TT7OD8fkzS9ZVwCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG-1991.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This first one I spotted, there are many many many popping!!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pksQ5oqTfqo/WYjU3-jSWwI/AAAAAAAAIzI/9z-reUDCG7opNpTcbOE7ZRJQM8RIPP5rwCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG-1628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1440" height="298" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pksQ5oqTfqo/WYjU3-jSWwI/AAAAAAAAIzI/9z-reUDCG7opNpTcbOE7ZRJQM8RIPP5rwCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG-1628.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early on, cabbage leaf after the rains..</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tn4ozcKe3rw/WYjV3_8V02I/AAAAAAAAIzQ/NS2d9lLTH9YEis7Gry1NgUc5zZNwwZ05QCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG-2137%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1280" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tn4ozcKe3rw/WYjV3_8V02I/AAAAAAAAIzQ/NS2d9lLTH9YEis7Gry1NgUc5zZNwwZ05QCLcBGAs/s400/IMG-2137%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Acorn squash blossom...</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nr1IXTEf8zk/WYjdI3uEQLI/AAAAAAAAIz0/u6OnmqGtN4ILmM6NgWPHiSPRAlcS4GnRgCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG-2254%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1280" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nr1IXTEf8zk/WYjdI3uEQLI/AAAAAAAAIz0/u6OnmqGtN4ILmM6NgWPHiSPRAlcS4GnRgCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG-2254%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">July 26</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WnxmcGZv7Vs/WYjZcNWrCyI/AAAAAAAAIzo/W2VVWKUA4749xY1RygnSvy8AThK_IF_DQCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG-2462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WnxmcGZv7Vs/WYjZcNWrCyI/AAAAAAAAIzo/W2VVWKUA4749xY1RygnSvy8AThK_IF_DQCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG-2462.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This morning, daisies, monsoon season in Colorado..</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">'And the LORD will continually guide you, And satisfy your desire in scorched places, And give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.' &nbsp; &nbsp; Isaiah 58:11<br /><br />And for a post script, we have made a visit to a really beautiful animal shelter in Castle Rock, which is about 25 minutes south, to sort of kind of start looking for another kitten/cat....sort of kind of ready...</div>Amy Lilley Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10907512787759970646noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2163278516803757057.post-49084158859001745762017-07-13T11:19:00.001-06:002017-07-13T12:34:46.915-06:00Summer Skies and Stuffs..<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ze8xDDxInns/WWebtbCtx_I/AAAAAAAAIwA/gm7IJjksWKgZWKo99d92VIMCtY3Mkr_PACEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_1351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ze8xDDxInns/WWebtbCtx_I/AAAAAAAAIwA/gm7IJjksWKgZWKo99d92VIMCtY3Mkr_PACEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_1351.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">May 31</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Late Spring. Summer into Autumn are the best times of the year for me. I have planted my garden, which is flourishing, I have built 4 Adirondack chairs, which now sit in the front of the house. I also built a new desk! I bought 4 chairs which had to be built from a kit we found at Home Depot. It took some figuring out with the first one as the instructions were hard to follow, but, I got it, and the next 3 chairs took about 1/3 of the time. Two coats of polyurethane on the natural wood, along with some felt pads on the bottoms of each leg finished them off really well. Thrilled, and, they're comfortable. They are not perfect, but, that works for me. I have been using our old dining room table as a desk since 2005 and I had been searching for a real desk for many months, it seems. We saw this one at The World Market, very utilitarian, I thought, it has drawers and some shelves. That might work. So, finally after much looking around, I decided to buy it, but, it too, had to be built</span><i style="text-align: justify;">. It weighed a ton</i><span style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;and most thankfully, the Boys did the heavy lifting. After making the chairs, the desk was easy.&nbsp;Thrilled with the desk too, and yes, it is totally utilitarian!! The garden was planted the week after we said our goodbye's to The Girl, and it has really been so therapeutic, just to be able to take care of 'something', (still toying with fostering...) along with the great hope of watching it grow and having food with no question from whence it came. It has already exceeded my expectations! Cabbage, strawberries, curly kale, butternut squash, sweet peppers, eggplant and 4 or 5 varieties of tomatoes, along with (not shown) 5 varieties of basil, flat leaf parsley, cilantro, 3 varieties of thyme and lavender are growing beautifully as well! There will be a freezer full of pesto come harvest time, and I will share along the way! Swimming and kayaking are all on the table as well. These are all things I </span><i style="text-align: justify;">love </i><span style="text-align: justify;">doing, along with taking pics of the gorgeous Spring/Summer (for now) skies. So, again, for those of you not on social media, here is a snippet of my summer in Colorado, (not chronological...but, close enough!), and it's only July 13th!! The sun sets behind the 2 trees in Cherry Creek State Park, so, they are the subject of many of the summer pics!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ufsxVla30qA/WWeby6dcjeI/AAAAAAAAIwE/kr5bAl-fC6QZjJE3jpXawzF-y0TBkzHlwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ufsxVla30qA/WWeby6dcjeI/AAAAAAAAIwE/kr5bAl-fC6QZjJE3jpXawzF-y0TBkzHlwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_1625.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">June 22</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9mccAIbT6qg/WWecAg5HGaI/AAAAAAAAIwM/0evAkOuwcGo396S0p_NA3bV7LTatOPbcgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9mccAIbT6qg/WWecAg5HGaI/AAAAAAAAIwM/0evAkOuwcGo396S0p_NA3bV7LTatOPbcgCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_1720.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">June 26</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XM3k56uXKgE/WWecHOWyD9I/AAAAAAAAIwQ/mlSgbDH3YOYORghAYmc71z7X3TwGLVBpgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XM3k56uXKgE/WWecHOWyD9I/AAAAAAAAIwQ/mlSgbDH3YOYORghAYmc71z7X3TwGLVBpgCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_1489.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">June 11</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PkhfC7qgEl0/WWecL1_Q5_I/AAAAAAAAIwU/13nVVdhCTN8DyW4h5Vubmg79pygaOzBcACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1672.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1440" height="298" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PkhfC7qgEl0/WWecL1_Q5_I/AAAAAAAAIwU/13nVVdhCTN8DyW4h5Vubmg79pygaOzBcACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_1672.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Marina, early evening drive around the lake, June 24</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qU3B2e6FtcA/WWecTw63z7I/AAAAAAAAIwY/z_2tu4-OaGsiptBefOkfEqNFhny0J9y1QCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qU3B2e6FtcA/WWecTw63z7I/AAAAAAAAIwY/z_2tu4-OaGsiptBefOkfEqNFhny0J9y1QCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_1816.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">July 1</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mzf8RvXdrjM/WWece_SS9qI/AAAAAAAAIwg/8Q-Y6EUiJEsRCuerUguDhvvVIbauukVbACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mzf8RvXdrjM/WWece_SS9qI/AAAAAAAAIwg/8Q-Y6EUiJEsRCuerUguDhvvVIbauukVbACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_1907.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">July 6</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hlL6xzYTQ5k/WWefPKN7WUI/AAAAAAAAIws/txw3UW2w2XkH1n9W66j7TppFdAYwPQESACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hlL6xzYTQ5k/WWefPKN7WUI/AAAAAAAAIws/txw3UW2w2XkH1n9W66j7TppFdAYwPQESACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_1990.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 days ago!!!!!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fr23nVHSq8U/WWefXQKXA1I/AAAAAAAAIww/bIdVT76Ig3IubmNQc2K1yheeJV4vd2--ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1199" data-original-width="1600" height="298" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fr23nVHSq8U/WWefXQKXA1I/AAAAAAAAIww/bIdVT76Ig3IubmNQc2K1yheeJV4vd2--ACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_1997.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lined them up for the pic, 2 on either side...</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o51uMhTJWwg/WWefb_DScDI/AAAAAAAAIw0/izF_mepsVGwpnWSLU4HkO6WGFEtnbZI5ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1199" data-original-width="1600" height="298" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o51uMhTJWwg/WWefb_DScDI/AAAAAAAAIw0/izF_mepsVGwpnWSLU4HkO6WGFEtnbZI5ACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_1893.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy with the new desk, drawers and shelves..</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YXhNDW1ItHY/WWeb5YpV7oI/AAAAAAAAIwI/xbfwrjJLSBEAuIXzkYgiECAekTEkvQFGwCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_1398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YXhNDW1ItHY/WWeb5YpV7oI/AAAAAAAAIwI/xbfwrjJLSBEAuIXzkYgiECAekTEkvQFGwCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_1398.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">June 3...to many sunbeams to possibly count..</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-djYmWkyKis0/WWecjnAqujI/AAAAAAAAIwk/cMZ3ZJGAs8YlNJA92x_xAhradnZqVN8EQCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_1888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1434" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-djYmWkyKis0/WWecjnAqujI/AAAAAAAAIwk/cMZ3ZJGAs8YlNJA92x_xAhradnZqVN8EQCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_1888.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />June 5th...&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">'Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord's name is to be praised.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high..' Psalm 113:2-5</div></div>Amy Lilley Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10907512787759970646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2163278516803757057.post-10852582903161609782017-06-22T12:11:00.000-06:002017-06-22T12:11:04.953-06:00The Lake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GVVY6cawfp0/WUv1SRCk2II/AAAAAAAAIt4/NF_1WVnR7PcBtUzMUKZW_HolWtwsaTFeACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1349" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GVVY6cawfp0/WUv1SRCk2II/AAAAAAAAIt4/NF_1WVnR7PcBtUzMUKZW_HolWtwsaTFeACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_1325.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I am very fortunate to be able to go out on the lake during the week, when it is quiet vs. the weekends when most people take out their boats of all shapes and sizes, jet-ski's, inner tubes, etc. I am one of the few humans sharing space with the Pelicans, the Great Blue Herons, the ducks and her 'lings', the geese, with a very rare eagle siting, some giant fish, all of whom I have named 'Walter' (On Golden Pond) jumping out of the water...I would LOVE to capture Walter in a photo! &nbsp;I have to immediately start paddling which I immediately love and then wonder, what will the day bring. I look over my shoulder and I can see the Rockies, still a wee bit snow capped, I look forward, and on the far side, I see a small line of white, which are the Pelicans. I paddle towards them. It is my goal to get to the far side of the lake each time. It takes me around 50 minutes. Sometimes I stop along the way, now that the Herons have returned, there might be an opportunity to take some pics. The Herons only let me get so close before they pull their long necks way down, and by some miracle take off. They are at least 4 feet tall, and very pre-historic looking, so, seeing them in flight is pretty amazing. This first pic of the Heron was truly a gift, as he, very out of character, gave me some time to not only get closer, but stay, and take this first pic along with about 20 more. I love love love paddling not far from the shore, as that is where most of the wildlife can be seen, except for Walter(s) who are in the deeper waters. The Pelicans let me get closer, (even tho, with both big birds, I am using my zoom), and they are great fun to photograph. On occasion I will meet other kayakers, and wave or stop for a chat in the middle of the lake, but for the most, it's just me. I treasure that time alone, having a purpose or, really, many, and remain ridiculously grateful to be healthy with camera in tow, ready for a new adventure!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qtIWMgFXBUw/WUv1quRhODI/AAAAAAAAIuQ/wUXNXbejOLgzr1E2aFxwwsPWFWwChe6rwCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_1538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="964" data-original-width="964" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qtIWMgFXBUw/WUv1quRhODI/AAAAAAAAIuQ/wUXNXbejOLgzr1E2aFxwwsPWFWwChe6rwCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_1538.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. Great Blue Heron!!</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mMseHW7Kebo/WUv106aQXBI/AAAAAAAAIuA/JrPrpvfzliEc45wB4Uhw3JhhbSXrLDhfwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1440" height="298" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mMseHW7Kebo/WUv106aQXBI/AAAAAAAAIuA/JrPrpvfzliEc45wB4Uhw3JhhbSXrLDhfwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_1452.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fortunate to catch the flight, with a deer, geese, pelicans in the background..</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9eRHfMHfM4g/WUwE3AzVQ7I/AAAAAAAAIu8/zn7OCZzFKGwZgiKUz94d65dqKr_fDNtkwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1440" height="298" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9eRHfMHfM4g/WUwE3AzVQ7I/AAAAAAAAIu8/zn7OCZzFKGwZgiKUz94d65dqKr_fDNtkwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_1540.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The shallows...lots of action here!!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wUPK83pu57Y/WUv16Mxd1JI/AAAAAAAAIuE/nAAjqkS2K98SdKdE36n0n-rPRtqaqhlGACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1440" height="298" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wUPK83pu57Y/WUv16Mxd1JI/AAAAAAAAIuE/nAAjqkS2K98SdKdE36n0n-rPRtqaqhlGACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_1460.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ever photogenic Pelicans..&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sy19fFi_vZM/WUv2N05MwEI/AAAAAAAAIuQ/RZkJNo_wq4goeFUigo1LhKseQ9GPlS7bgCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_1591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sy19fFi_vZM/WUv2N05MwEI/AAAAAAAAIuQ/RZkJNo_wq4goeFUigo1LhKseQ9GPlS7bgCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_1591.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. Pelican, fluffing it up a bit..</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xD5ruKwrENU/WUv2ldzjD2I/AAAAAAAAIuQ/9YoaKeLQ4lkyvnuIyliwK6shfKAah1mSQCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_1592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1199" data-original-width="1600" height="298" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xD5ruKwrENU/WUv2ldzjD2I/AAAAAAAAIuQ/9YoaKeLQ4lkyvnuIyliwK6shfKAah1mSQCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_1592.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The serenity, around 4pm..<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">'For behold, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone. The flowers have already appeared in the land; The time has arrived for pruning the vines, And the voice of the turtledove has been heard in our land. The fig tree has ripened its figs, And the vines in blossom have given forth their fragrance...'</div><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Song of Solomon 2:11-13</div><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div>Amy Lilley Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10907512787759970646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2163278516803757057.post-80262902288560310512017-05-27T11:01:00.000-06:002017-05-27T14:14:02.343-06:00Fare Thee Well: The Girl...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lHENY8z_uk8/WSmpsntRo3I/AAAAAAAAIqM/6zWop3DVALEnSZI5NKFO4u_iz5wTTCuMgCLcB/s1600/FullSizeRender%2B%252827%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1583" data-original-width="1600" height="395" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lHENY8z_uk8/WSmpsntRo3I/AAAAAAAAIqM/6zWop3DVALEnSZI5NKFO4u_iz5wTTCuMgCLcB/s400/FullSizeRender%2B%252827%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">We had to kiss The Girl goodbye yesterday. She never recovered from some extensive oral surgery she had a month ago, as it seems there was a 'cannot be seen by the eye' mass under her tongue which chose to grow rather aggressively after the surgery. I felt relief for her, because she was not herself, sweet, purring kitty, but not herself. This is the first time in almost 2 decades that we have not had a kitty in the house, so, even this morning I had to stop myself from reaching for the cat bowl to make&nbsp;</span>her daily concoction of food</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h-EOt8HhZso/WSmqZv7QKYI/AAAAAAAAIqU/b0DN5Q35ijc32YyMR7Elfanxqi1kglqIACEw/s1600/the%2Bgirl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1281" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h-EOt8HhZso/WSmqZv7QKYI/AAAAAAAAIqU/b0DN5Q35ijc32YyMR7Elfanxqi1kglqIACEw/s320/the%2Bgirl.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">She was my little Muse. The camera loved her, and over the years with the advent of the digital camera, thankfully I have some beautiful shots of that face. When we brought her home she was a little ball of gray fur who immediately threw The Old Man into a deep depression for a good year, thinking he was no longer king of the hill, but he eventually came around and kept his rightful place. She wasn't the sharpest tack in the box, and her synapses didn't quite fire off 'correctly', but, we loved her. She was a jumper. In the Rhode Island house, she would jump from the floor to a piece of furniture we have which is at least 4 feet tall, from there, she would jump to the top of the bathroom cabinets and look down at us. She barely made a sound, never broke anything, she just did it. And then one day, just like that, she stopped jumping. I think she missed her mark maybe once or twice, and knew not to attempt the impossible any more. She had the attitude of a truck driver, yet remained quite regal throughout. She made the transition to Colorado without issue (she did allot better than me!!!) and actually thrived.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jP-9IMmnWh0/WSmrYPaJPoI/AAAAAAAAIqg/P0TWikyyEfkOdoROUx3HNodn5o6KKd-hwCEw/s1600/IMG_7718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jP-9IMmnWh0/WSmrYPaJPoI/AAAAAAAAIqg/P0TWikyyEfkOdoROUx3HNodn5o6KKd-hwCEw/s320/IMG_7718.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XStfWy8teJI/WSmrqOU773I/AAAAAAAAIqk/3iWXK4iZIywBzaxZnzbbWcdcj1Vt_ivOwCLcB/s1600/FullSizeRender%2B%252828%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1567" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XStfWy8teJI/WSmrqOU773I/AAAAAAAAIqk/3iWXK4iZIywBzaxZnzbbWcdcj1Vt_ivOwCLcB/s320/FullSizeRender%2B%252828%2529.jpg" width="313" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6Rvu1jwhpw4/WSmsAB7VQ1I/AAAAAAAAIqo/z-4JMgZeP3YDjoqfVp9a8d2NTjHtSpICACLcB/s1600/FullSizeRender%2B%252826%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1479" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6Rvu1jwhpw4/WSmsAB7VQ1I/AAAAAAAAIqo/z-4JMgZeP3YDjoqfVp9a8d2NTjHtSpICACLcB/s320/FullSizeRender%2B%252826%2529.jpg" width="295" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">The Girl aka Little Kitty, and The Old Man, aka, Big Kitty, aka Richie Havens, blessed us with their presence over these many years. We talk about Big Kitty often, and now, we will do the same, I am certain, with The Girl. Right now, I feeling a bit lost, like a piece of me is missing. I'll be fine. Most important, she is no longer 'not herself' and can harass The Old Man once again to her hearts delight.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IcT2qPAdOlE/WSmsYM3IrzI/AAAAAAAAIqs/pLd0q6nlU7ksf5ojhk4VMNES3LyvHj11QCLcB/s1600/IMG_4997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="778" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IcT2qPAdOlE/WSmsYM3IrzI/AAAAAAAAIqs/pLd0q6nlU7ksf5ojhk4VMNES3LyvHj11QCLcB/s320/IMG_4997.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sltHdoTh9lo/WSmsp3jrBtI/AAAAAAAAIqw/t7v9tPKULJ8Q2Scr2jYTdW-jbwbtNZ3dgCLcB/s1600/IMG_9323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sltHdoTh9lo/WSmsp3jrBtI/AAAAAAAAIqw/t7v9tPKULJ8Q2Scr2jYTdW-jbwbtNZ3dgCLcB/s320/IMG_9323.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZbHLc3Iy4Tk/WSmtxPrYwMI/AAAAAAAAIq8/pka2uvd_s-U5nCUFezrAo4iJBG7LRpKSwCLcB/s1600/AD75ED97-3820-4F96-9543-5F0B45CFB044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="914" data-original-width="914" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZbHLc3Iy4Tk/WSmtxPrYwMI/AAAAAAAAIq8/pka2uvd_s-U5nCUFezrAo4iJBG7LRpKSwCLcB/s320/AD75ED97-3820-4F96-9543-5F0B45CFB044.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">The Techs, the Vets at Aurora Animal Hospital have to be the sweetest, kindest group of people I have ever met, and made yesterday totally okay. I cannot thank them enough for their compassion. On the upside, I have been toying with the idea of fostering. So we'll see...in the meantime, here's to The Girl, our sweet, beautiful precious little Girl cat.&nbsp;</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hPIIXmjRkxY/WSnXs_IrovI/AAAAAAAAIrs/m0qRxEB8LTwX1wv2EJf1yhc_vJrLCL-aQCLcB/s1600/IMG_1305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hPIIXmjRkxY/WSnXs_IrovI/AAAAAAAAIrs/m0qRxEB8LTwX1wv2EJf1yhc_vJrLCL-aQCLcB/s320/IMG_1305.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Last pic taken yesterday morning...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">When we said goodbye to The Old Man, my friend Sally sent me the story, in full, of &nbsp;'The Rainbow Bridge'. It was a great comfort to me then, as it is today. You can read the whole story, <a href="http://amylilleydesigns.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-rainbow-bridgein-full.html">here</a>. And, per my previous post, it was no surprise, when my Cousin Rita called this morning...</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Amy Lilley Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10907512787759970646noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2163278516803757057.post-21030360891684350592017-05-22T11:56:00.002-06:002017-05-24T21:21:34.793-06:00Today is a Good Day to Exhale...<br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Written on Saturday, May 20, New York City:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So, trip number 3, back to the east coast since 2015. Each one, a different season, a different reason, but the love remains the same. The love for my Family and my Friends, I have said hello and goodbye to, too many times over at this point to count...and today, my heart spilled over with emotion as I realized that I was beginning to exhale. My Cousins and I are close and I am thankfully, very free with them. My cousin Rita, her dog, Roxie died yesterday, so we spoke this morning. She told me the whole story of Roxie's last day, and most gratefully, Roxie passed away on her own and not in my cousins house. Rita and a friend were able to make it to the Vet pretty much in the nick of time, so that no papers had to be filled out, and the whole guilt of 'putting our pets down' or 'I just murdered my 4 legged family member', was dissolved. Thank you sweet Roxie for sparing Rita that part of her story. Then it was my turn to talk.I did not write about it publicly when my cousin Ellie died suddenly in December, it was a Family decision. Many months before her passing we talked about my clearing out her apartment in Chelsea, so, that was the main reason for the trip. Just this (chilly) morning, in this cozy room in this old brownstone in the West Village, I felt the loss and I grieved for yet another member of Mom's generation. Here is what I have learned about grief over these almost 5 years since Mom passed. <i>Grief will get you</i>. You might think that you are clever enough to tuck it away someplace, or to pretend that you are 'good', since a couple of years have passed and life has marched on. But grief is too powerful. It <i>will</i> rise up and it <i>will</i> come out and show itself when you least expect it. This is what happened to me this morning. I was not here when Ellie died, as much as I received many updates over those 2 days when difficult life and death decisions were being made, yet, it did happen to me too. Watching, partaking, as her apartment was dismantled painting by painting, photo by photo, plant by plant, would have made an eventful time lapse video. With anyone who reaches the impressive age of 88, there were many layers to Ellie. We learned upon her passing that she kept people and possessions very compartmentalized. What a great thing when all those people actually met, and the doors to Ellie's compartments swung wide open. I now have a couple of new friends on Facebook, one important, healed up relationship and some new/old photos to bring back to Colorado. Ellie, I am certain looked down with ridiculous pleasure to see how well the day unfolded. My sweet sweet Ellie. So, Rita got an earful too, but she had to run, conversation over...me still spilling...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3CASFFtDBR8/WSMkPI9Q9vI/AAAAAAAAIpk/UVBD3dGRmUEvGJ--hTgrn1UsC_urUmdCQCLcB/s1600/IMG_1254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3CASFFtDBR8/WSMkPI9Q9vI/AAAAAAAAIpk/UVBD3dGRmUEvGJ--hTgrn1UsC_urUmdCQCLcB/s320/IMG_1254.JPG" width="256" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Post script: That day, I stayed very nuzzled in, ate potato chips, drank coconut water, watched 6 episodes of General Hospital, the last 3 episodes of Scandal (OMG), napped and slowly prepared myself to leave New York. Today is Wednesday, I feel much more rested and my joy has returned to its fullness...looking back, just these couple of days, I saw bubbles of the grief rising last week but, I was busy running, seeing, doing, yet, I could not hide it...grateful that I have learned to recognize it, let it happen, get it out, and then proceed forward...</div></div>Amy Lilley Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10907512787759970646noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2163278516803757057.post-76189735237196417882017-04-02T11:12:00.001-06:002017-04-02T17:45:29.680-06:00Playing Catch-up...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MM61mU4gW44/WOEj2DtxjtI/AAAAAAAAImo/dCSHzPOubBA6FpVlt3EcJZ8sdeokeUd7wCLcB/s1600/IMG_0449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MM61mU4gW44/WOEj2DtxjtI/AAAAAAAAImo/dCSHzPOubBA6FpVlt3EcJZ8sdeokeUd7wCLcB/s400/IMG_0449.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Translucent leaf, so pretty, floating in the shallows of the lake..</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bpGkeoBJhHU/WOEkE1UQmRI/AAAAAAAAIms/5LEOZdlV4s4oI6OsLJC8In7N4kol3UZswCLcB/s1600/IMG_0555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bpGkeoBJhHU/WOEkE1UQmRI/AAAAAAAAIms/5LEOZdlV4s4oI6OsLJC8In7N4kol3UZswCLcB/s400/IMG_0555.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alaskan geese taking a stroll on the frozen lake...&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FzK903Jm41k/WOEkPmd1p6I/AAAAAAAAImw/pgW30sTTSTsRlC9i6oWfs4FObrXbhHaEgCLcB/s1600/IMG_0519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FzK903Jm41k/WOEkPmd1p6I/AAAAAAAAImw/pgW30sTTSTsRlC9i6oWfs4FObrXbhHaEgCLcB/s320/IMG_0519.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chubby, confused prairie dog....</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_WD9_Y-MArM/WOEk31KyqvI/AAAAAAAAIm4/KB0461kUDuE6Xb7WASDxkTvSXvmD3pwtwCLcB/s1600/IMG_0486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_WD9_Y-MArM/WOEk31KyqvI/AAAAAAAAIm4/KB0461kUDuE6Xb7WASDxkTvSXvmD3pwtwCLcB/s400/IMG_0486.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Took the kayak out in the middle of March, twice!!!</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wA1DuqtRuu8/WOEmoHdzaiI/AAAAAAAAInI/B4jYocTiOio5yDCw8J9nHfQlIAediKNDwCLcB/s1600/IMG_0468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wA1DuqtRuu8/WOEmoHdzaiI/AAAAAAAAInI/B4jYocTiOio5yDCw8J9nHfQlIAediKNDwCLcB/s400/IMG_0468.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the lake in the kayak, like a mirror, so so so quiet...</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4HCVbkjDQcA/WOEm3fiQ2nI/AAAAAAAAInM/jMjROikSeWwYvDuV24h25om0LiuVnTfywCLcB/s1600/IMG_0591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4HCVbkjDQcA/WOEm3fiQ2nI/AAAAAAAAInM/jMjROikSeWwYvDuV24h25om0LiuVnTfywCLcB/s400/IMG_0591.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before the much needed rain as EVERYTHING is getting ready to burst with color...</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BbpZw1k1OFk/WOEnGL0wz1I/AAAAAAAAInQ/rW_rA9aJP0g9ayYHCDxB3XkJj7Q25v8rQCLcB/s1600/IMG_0640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BbpZw1k1OFk/WOEnGL0wz1I/AAAAAAAAInQ/rW_rA9aJP0g9ayYHCDxB3XkJj7Q25v8rQCLcB/s400/IMG_0640.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rains over the Rockies, headed east to us...much needed...</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I6a1taWTZww/WOEnz7wePvI/AAAAAAAAInY/SYBhMLmPpWUJUJhKrf2FoVCiOfzIujJYwCLcB/s1600/IMG_0388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I6a1taWTZww/WOEnz7wePvI/AAAAAAAAInY/SYBhMLmPpWUJUJhKrf2FoVCiOfzIujJYwCLcB/s400/IMG_0388.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daylight savings sunset...</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MHI0IJzp8Ew/WOEoZBwYc5I/AAAAAAAAIng/FGzC8HZXc4gArgPKY0mjfelbImAOB7hCQCLcB/s1600/IMG_0608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MHI0IJzp8Ew/WOEoZBwYc5I/AAAAAAAAIng/FGzC8HZXc4gArgPKY0mjfelbImAOB7hCQCLcB/s400/IMG_0608.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After another round of precip...</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nopMWnWgjJo/WOEoouCTXqI/AAAAAAAAInk/-AdSI5NXWB8FRd3uXn-3h441RVsWc9rcgCLcB/s1600/IMG_0581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nopMWnWgjJo/WOEoouCTXqI/AAAAAAAAInk/-AdSI5NXWB8FRd3uXn-3h441RVsWc9rcgCLcB/s400/IMG_0581.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">It occurred to me, after seeing my cutback in blogging, that <a href="https://www.instagram.com/amylikesjack/?ref=badge">Instagram</a>&nbsp;(<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amylikesjack/?ref=badge">amylikesjack</a>)&nbsp;has become more of a daily log for hundreds upon hundreds upon hundreds of millions of people around the globe. Myself included. It is easy to get exposure globally, and instantly, and as a photographer, this form of social media, has proved/proven to be a worthy tool. It also occurred to me that many of you, who are on my mailing list, have absolutely no social media presence at all, which in this day and age, is almost more impressive. March blew in, we turned around, March blew out and here we are in April. The story here, in Colorado, has been the lack of any sort of moisture in the form of rain or snow, which, as I have stated many a time on my Instagram feed, it is 'scary, bone dry.' Having lived through 2 of Colorado's most destructive wild fires, it was abundantly clear, that the State could simply go up in flames with one careless move. So, we waited and waited and waited. We never really had a winter, and much to my surprise, with very mixed feelings, I was out on the lake (which should have been frozen) in the middle of March, twice. The Blue Herons are still gone, the Great White Pelicans are scant, forget about the Eagles altogether, they have eluded me, it has become personal! And then, finally after crazy warm temps, the rains, the much needed moisture started pouring down upon us. Gentle, sweet smelling rains. In other places around the state, massive amounts of snow, and more on the way, but, we welcome it! So, for those of you who (impressively) are not engaging on social media, this is a 'catch-up' post, so you can see, in part, some of the sites from the month of March!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">'Drip down, O heavens, from above, And let the clouds pour down righteousness; Let the earth open up and salvation bear fruit, And righteousness spring up with it. I, the LORD, have created it.' Isaiah 45:8</div>Amy Lilley Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10907512787759970646noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2163278516803757057.post-28114057819208779632017-02-28T15:25:00.000-07:002017-02-28T19:06:42.411-07:00Astrolabe, Ancient Handheld Device<div style="text-align: center;">Imagine if you or I were to go back to Ancient times, around the time of the Maccabee's, for a point of reference or the time of Jesus which is more widely known. Then, imagine if you or I were to give any person in either of these settings an iPhone or an iPad. Chances are, they would not have the first clue of what it might be, or how to turn it on, not to mention the countless ways in which it can be used. And then, switch that very scenario to a Maccabee Brother or any person living in Jerusalem in the time of Jesus. If anyone of those people were to hand any one of us an Astrolabe, chances are, we would not have a clue to what it might be, how to 'turn it on', not to mention the countless ways in which it can be used.&nbsp;</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DewzXRyUoqU/WLXS_pln7VI/AAAAAAAAIlU/Bg39Mis_axUirM6gkubuI8O9lFwvyr7kQCLcB/s1600/IMG_0801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DewzXRyUoqU/WLXS_pln7VI/AAAAAAAAIlU/Bg39Mis_axUirM6gkubuI8O9lFwvyr7kQCLcB/s400/IMG_0801.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Whole Astrolabe or the mater, Latin for Mother, is the main body of the Astrolabe.&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">The edge of the mater is called the limb, on which are the degree scale and scale of hours are engraved. The hollowed-out part of the mater is called the womb and contains the latitude plate.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L_FB0mdO0Yg/WLXS3EAyh3I/AAAAAAAAIlQ/UpeDM_AC-wM3XXB_U0Px_HkZ-DWybItDACLcB/s1600/IMG_0799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L_FB0mdO0Yg/WLXS3EAyh3I/AAAAAAAAIlQ/UpeDM_AC-wM3XXB_U0Px_HkZ-DWybItDACLcB/s400/IMG_0799.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rete (pronounced, 'reet'), acts as a model of the sky, with the plates lining up behind. The rete is the movable part on which the position of the sun and the stars are depicted.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tF_bHpz05ug/WLXTFLNbLBI/AAAAAAAAIlY/qPKcAeHWBwYx6bRaUg8i8PqJ-Ntc9FGMACLcB/s400/IMG_0800.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Display of the rete and the plates, with the mater holding everything together, in the back.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tF_bHpz05ug/WLXTFLNbLBI/AAAAAAAAIlY/qPKcAeHWBwYx6bRaUg8i8PqJ-Ntc9FGMACLcB/s1600/IMG_0800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0WCbuqjmdPs/WLXTJk9LunI/AAAAAAAAIlc/zDI-48pJjLQfFMrDRbXgDi7jmzH1nrCHwCLcB/s400/IMG_0802.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another view of the display of the Astrolabe parts: rete, plates and mater.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">I have been sitting on this post for months now because there is no simple explanation to what an Astrolabe is, how and why it was created and the thousand ways it can be used. I first saw it on display at the 'Jerusalem:1000-1400, Every People Under Heaven' at the Met in New York last October. As I was walking though the exhibit, it was one of the first things which caught my eye. I had no idea what it was. What I did know was that it was <i>very </i>beautiful, looked very interesting, and it 'felt' important. I was also taking pics of the captions, thinking ahead to Instagram and this blog. Thank goodness these pics which I took at the exhibit are good, because the pic for the caption of the Astrolabe was blurry, impossible to know what it said, so, I <i>still had no idea</i> what on earth this was. When I came back to Colorado, I began to dig around to get some answers. I am not sure how I got there, but ohmygoodness, the information was mind boggling.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">One great piece of information I found, was that there was a woman, her name was Mariam al Ijliya, a famous astrolabe maker who lived in Aleppo in the 10th century. So hard to imagine, given the images we see today of what was once a diverse and thriving ancient culture. If she could speak, she might say that she was a pioneer of this ancient device, and that it was the GPS of its day!!!! I am guessing none of us could have functioned without an Astrolabe to know the time of day, sunrise, sunset, seasons for planting, directions, celestial events, just to mention a few. I have highlighted the word Astrolabe to link to various sites where I gathered this information.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">This is a brief overview of what I learned:&nbsp;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">'<a href="http://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_214167">The astrolabe </a>is an astronomical calculating device used from ancient times into the eighteenth century. Measuring the height of a star using the back of the instrument, and knowing the latitude, one could find the time of night and the position of other stars. The openwork piece on the front, called the rete, is a star map of the northern sky. Pointers on the rete correspond to stars; the outermost circle is the Tropic of Capricorn, and the circle that is off-center represents the zodiac, the apparent annual motion of the sun. Engraved plates that fit below the rete have scales of altitude and arc of the horizon for specific latitudes.'</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;'A typical old<a href="https://www.astrolabes.org/index.htm"> astrolabe</a> was made of brass and was about 6 inches (15 cm) in diameter, although much larger and smaller ones were made.&nbsp;</span><span style="text-align: justify;">Astrolabes are used to show how the sky looks at a specific place at a given time. This is done by drawing the sky on the face of the astrolabe and marking it so positions in the sky are easy to find. To use an astrolabe, you adjust the movable components to a specific date and time. Once set, much of the sky, both visible and invisible, is represented on the face of the instrument. This allows a great many astronomical problems to be solved in a very visual way. Typical uses of the astrolabe include finding the time during the day or night, finding the time of a celestial event such as sunrise or sunset and as a handy reference of celestial positions. Astrolabes were also one of the basic astronomy education tools in the late Middle Ages. Old instruments were also used for astrological purposes. The typical astrolabe was not a navigational instrument although an instrument called the mariner's astrolabe was widely used in the Renaissance. The mariner's astrolabe is simply a ring marked in degrees for measuring celestial altitudes.'</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">'The origins of the <a href="https://www.astrolabes.org/pages/history.htm">astrolabe</a> were in classical Greece. Apollonius (ca. 225 BC). The most influential individual on the theory of the astrolabe projection was <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Hipparchus-Greek-astronomer#toc229468">Hipparchus</a> who was born in Nicaea in Asia Minor (now Iznik in Turkey) about 180 BC but studied and worked on the island of Rhodes. Hipparchus, who also discovered the precession of the equinoxes and was influential in the development of trigonometry, redefined and formalized the projection as a method for solving complex astronomical problems without spherical trigonometry and probably proved its main characteristics. Hipparchus did not invent the astrolabe, but he did refine the projection theory.'</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Below is a beautiful, short video of a gifted, dedicated, contemporary Astrolabe maker!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0WCbuqjmdPs/WLXTJk9LunI/AAAAAAAAIlc/zDI-48pJjLQfFMrDRbXgDi7jmzH1nrCHwCLcB/s1600/IMG_0802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HrD7uwOFufo/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HrD7uwOFufo?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;'To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.</div><div style="text-align: center;">To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.</div><div style="text-align: center;">To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:</div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:</div><div style="text-align: center;">The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.' &nbsp; Psalm 136:5-9</div>Amy Lilley Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10907512787759970646noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2163278516803757057.post-84371615275461110252017-02-02T13:50:00.001-07:002017-02-02T14:45:36.908-07:00The Orchid Show<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">So, allot has changed since Christmas, however, life marches forward, and so it has, right to the annual Orchid Show at The Denver Botanic Gardens. Last year, I was still using my trustee little Nikon, but this year, my sweet, not so new anymore, Sony has proven worthy. I have been studying up on how to take photos of flowers and I am so pleased with these results. The Orchids are ridiculously colorful, delicate, sensuous, strong, and very very tricky to bring &nbsp;to full bloom. Hats off to the miracle workers at the Gardens for making this feast for the eyes, beauty for the soul, happen. It was an usually warm day, so the greenhouse sliders were open, and instead of glass and steel for some of the backgrounds, I had full access to the big Colorado skies. I took my time, met some nice people along the way, and lo and behold...for those of you on social media, I will be posting the 6 pics you have not yet seen on my Instagram feed, but spreading them out over the next many days, so, <i>enjoy</i> twice over. For those of you not on social media, <i>enjoy</i>!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dFLcpXmH-E0/WJOTgKO-fkI/AAAAAAAAIjc/ayqIZ0xnE0U2_T5FDZuMKmegDXca-JsyQCLcB/s1600/IMG_0677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dFLcpXmH-E0/WJOTgKO-fkI/AAAAAAAAIjc/ayqIZ0xnE0U2_T5FDZuMKmegDXca-JsyQCLcB/s400/IMG_0677.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fq7HFMXBOf0/WJOTmrZxDBI/AAAAAAAAIjg/t5tbuC9whSgR_-CgbwPSGdHxdUWw9S_pgCLcB/s1600/IMG_0683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fq7HFMXBOf0/WJOTmrZxDBI/AAAAAAAAIjg/t5tbuC9whSgR_-CgbwPSGdHxdUWw9S_pgCLcB/s320/IMG_0683.JPG" width="256" /></a>&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JdFVYzjeTBk/WJOTyBgHlkI/AAAAAAAAIjk/ITUHBxVVpmwmAG5d8rOSmQ-H0reOVI9ggCLcB/s1600/IMG_0685%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JdFVYzjeTBk/WJOTyBgHlkI/AAAAAAAAIjk/ITUHBxVVpmwmAG5d8rOSmQ-H0reOVI9ggCLcB/s400/IMG_0685%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--kUFl88NPwQ/WJOUAKec9VI/AAAAAAAAIjo/jm4ad53fbDEtnDU3HdZpGrz3Zcu63MNLgCLcB/s1600/IMG_0681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--kUFl88NPwQ/WJOUAKec9VI/AAAAAAAAIjo/jm4ad53fbDEtnDU3HdZpGrz3Zcu63MNLgCLcB/s400/IMG_0681.JPG" width="341" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lJKwFS3SMyg/WJOUFFz15KI/AAAAAAAAIjw/vl_1CO4F3FMVYDtXdHMTQWCy8R6mJ0YfgCLcB/s1600/IMG_0676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lJKwFS3SMyg/WJOUFFz15KI/AAAAAAAAIjw/vl_1CO4F3FMVYDtXdHMTQWCy8R6mJ0YfgCLcB/s320/IMG_0676.JPG" width="259" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qAwhAVp0oc4/WJOUI2uJ2sI/AAAAAAAAIj0/ToV9Yjab_ZI5y7lW5n3f_eiOI6rcNs81ACLcB/s1600/IMG_0679.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qAwhAVp0oc4/WJOUI2uJ2sI/AAAAAAAAIj0/ToV9Yjab_ZI5y7lW5n3f_eiOI6rcNs81ACLcB/s400/IMG_0679.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6gkwEjZGz2E/WJOUSzU6znI/AAAAAAAAIj4/aE7XkR1muqIelw10wjhnQg-X8FpFhpW4ACLcB/s1600/IMG_0680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6gkwEjZGz2E/WJOUSzU6znI/AAAAAAAAIj4/aE7XkR1muqIelw10wjhnQg-X8FpFhpW4ACLcB/s400/IMG_0680.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BEP1XVm_5dE/WJOUcBun_EI/AAAAAAAAIkA/LZk9soAkPYEtHXJuQLbkVKXNzRgByAv0ACLcB/s1600/IMG_0678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BEP1XVm_5dE/WJOUcBun_EI/AAAAAAAAIkA/LZk9soAkPYEtHXJuQLbkVKXNzRgByAv0ACLcB/s320/IMG_0678.JPG" width="256" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NJebV6x0HtU/WJOUh6viBtI/AAAAAAAAIkE/TayitbBzZyo5-nD0uyFdSY1VzlrF2NVTQCLcB/s1600/IMG_0682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NJebV6x0HtU/WJOUh6viBtI/AAAAAAAAIkE/TayitbBzZyo5-nD0uyFdSY1VzlrF2NVTQCLcB/s400/IMG_0682.JPG" width="305" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">'O Lord, how manifold are your works!' &nbsp;Psalm 104:24</div>Amy Lilley Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10907512787759970646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2163278516803757057.post-18344742488949752092016-12-24T10:13:00.000-07:002016-12-24T10:13:11.042-07:00His Sheep Listen/Hear...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yAeKiKZKr2c/WF6rKznQlFI/AAAAAAAAIgA/rV2QmUg49EUqNnU1qKuOwGDPg8iOXS4AgCLcB/s1600/FullSizeRender%2B%252824%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yAeKiKZKr2c/WF6rKznQlFI/AAAAAAAAIgA/rV2QmUg49EUqNnU1qKuOwGDPg8iOXS4AgCLcB/s400/FullSizeRender%2B%252824%2529.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">'My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:</div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;And I give unto them eternal life;</div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;and they shall never perish,&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.</div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;My Father, which gave them me,&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">is greater than all;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.</div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;I and my Father are one.'</div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; John 10:27-30</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">To our Friends and Family who celebrate, have a blessed, inspired, joyous and</div><div style="text-align: center;">hope-filled Christmas!</div>Amy Lilley Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10907512787759970646noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2163278516803757057.post-35402219604110094252016-12-23T10:26:00.000-07:002016-12-23T10:26:37.483-07:00Those Maccabee Boys...<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-43Gm76oWJKI/WF1UnVvbInI/AAAAAAAAIfk/n-brG7ORUWw3VXiSE1WB0L5QNEQ7mY1ugCLcB/s1600/14727647_1038363059595768_1192128835122888704_n%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-43Gm76oWJKI/WF1UnVvbInI/AAAAAAAAIfk/n-brG7ORUWw3VXiSE1WB0L5QNEQ7mY1ugCLcB/s400/14727647_1038363059595768_1192128835122888704_n%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">For years I have been posting about the Maccabee Brothers, every Chanukah, I post about the Maccabees. So, if you anything about me at all, you know how much I love those Maccabee Boys. They said, no way, no how, it is not going to happen to Antiochus' men when they came to a village in Modi'in. A Greco-Syrian soldier entered the Temple and started to sacrifice a pig on the altar. Enraged by this action, an old priest named Mattathias stabbed the soldier to death and the revolt began!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bLMTdtABRlQ/WF1Ur7ZYf7I/AAAAAAAAIfo/EUoEjPZwousT1ll2dunEfoQj1jeKypy7ACLcB/s1600/14727647_1038363059595768_1192128835122888704_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bLMTdtABRlQ/WF1Ur7ZYf7I/AAAAAAAAIfo/EUoEjPZwousT1ll2dunEfoQj1jeKypy7ACLcB/s400/14727647_1038363059595768_1192128835122888704_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For me, this year Chanukah carries even more meaning. When I was in New York in October, as I have mentioned a few times, I went to the 'Jerusalem:1000-1400, Every People Under Heaven' exhibit at the Met. I had one of those moments when history, DNA, the resistance in the Warsaw Ghetto, and the present collided and had me completely frozen with awe. There it was, one of the Books of The Maccabees. I wanted to hug the exhibit glass, but, that would have landed me out of the museum. I wished they had had a stool or ladder for short people to see the case of these books from above. I don't know how long I stood there soaking it all in, time stood still. This book is huge, at least 2 feet or more by 18" or more. The craftsmanship, unmatched. What an incredible work of art! This is so amazing, because if it looks like sheet music, it is! Here is what the caption said, "Europeans fighting for the Holy Land considered the Maccabees, Jews of the 2nd century, B.C. as examples of the struggle for Jerusalem. The hymn that begins with this pitched battle is a plea for peace taken from the book of the Maccabees." It is strewn throughout the Bible that praise, blowing of the shofar(s), songs of worship were sung before battle, Joshua 6:1-20, being a well known example. As was custom, I learned from this exhibit, that everyone, of every religion, in the region scribed. More so, the books have survived literally <i>thousands</i> of years.&nbsp;</div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Pursued by the Greco-Syrians, Mattathias and his 5 sons, known as the Maccabees fled to the hills surrounding Jerusalem. There, the resistance movement took form. Before he died, Mattathias selected his son, Judah to lead the fight, which he did, and valiantly. Through strategy and foresight, the rebels overcame all of Antiochus' forces, including an army riding elephants. In victory, the Maccabees liberated Jerusalem from the invaders, and on the 25th day of Kislev (this year, the first night is tomorrow, the 24th day of Kislev) they cleansed the temple which had been defiled. Chanukah, which means <i>dedication</i>, commemorates that day.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The miracle occurred, when looking for holy oil to light the Temple's candelabrum, there was just a very small cruse of sacramental oil, just enough to last a day. Knowing it would take eight days to prepare new holy oil, the Maccabee Boys, used the little bit they had and lit the menorah. Lo and behold, the oil burned for 8 days. Look at God!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">To my Family and Friends who celebrate, a very joyful and blessed Chanukah!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Amy Lilley Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10907512787759970646noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2163278516803757057.post-78503675910220629142016-11-28T10:12:00.000-07:002016-11-28T10:12:09.614-07:00REFLECTIONS Upon REFLECTIONS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H6H0aFXM_3U/WDxizqjTHKI/AAAAAAAAIdk/58xIQd_OIzEw0cvNM2C2XhA6qwWQpi__ACLcB/s1600/FullSizeRender%2B%252823%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H6H0aFXM_3U/WDxizqjTHKI/AAAAAAAAIdk/58xIQd_OIzEw0cvNM2C2XhA6qwWQpi__ACLcB/s320/FullSizeRender%2B%252823%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JwQpwcA3D_s/WDxi-ScSLzI/AAAAAAAAIdo/z1PFc26Qli0hyHg6wPEV7gS2zNzdbhqxQCLcB/s1600/IMG_7515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JwQpwcA3D_s/WDxi-ScSLzI/AAAAAAAAIdo/z1PFc26Qli0hyHg6wPEV7gS2zNzdbhqxQCLcB/s320/IMG_7515.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The '<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/479334808/reflections-ii-2017-limited-edition?ref=shop_home_active_1">REFLECTIONS II 2017</a>', limited edition calendar was delivered the day before Thanksgiving...and it began! I have the '<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/479334808/reflections-ii-2017-limited-edition?ref=shop_home_active_1">REFLECTIONS II 2017</a>' calendar and the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/384815632/reflections-jewish-calendar?ref=shop_home_feat_3">'REFLECTIONS</a>' Jewish calendar, 2016-2017/5776-5777, both listed in my Etsy shop, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/Lilleypics?ref=l2-shop-header-avatar">Lilleypics</a>, with FREE shippping &nbsp;in the U.S., for this day labeled, CYBER-MONDAY. May it be known, that shipping is normally $10. Both calendars have been well received, most thankfully/gratefully. The Jewish calendar, although we are almost 2 months into 5777, will continue to be sold in the shop until the very last day of 5777. With each passing month, the price will drop.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I am signing and dating every page of every calendar which leaves my home, as the 10"x10" archival quality of the photos can be easily framed! The calendars make a great gift for this busy holiday season!!! So, happy shopping!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vvbcdj-AQFA/WDxkFKvPVlI/AAAAAAAAIdw/C6fhj5nIyww9D8kms0sGzizs0_7zXI6igCLcB/s1600/IMG_9206%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vvbcdj-AQFA/WDxkFKvPVlI/AAAAAAAAIdw/C6fhj5nIyww9D8kms0sGzizs0_7zXI6igCLcB/s320/IMG_9206%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lt3m5W7INZY/WDxkVfc1NII/AAAAAAAAId0/QVJoAFkMCTcbQvbEutZRfcWFJtL-sC99wCLcB/s1600/IMG_9295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lt3m5W7INZY/WDxkVfc1NII/AAAAAAAAId0/QVJoAFkMCTcbQvbEutZRfcWFJtL-sC99wCLcB/s320/IMG_9295.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">'<i>God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.'</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<i>Psalm 46:1</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/Lilleypics?ref=l2-shop-header-avatar">Click here to get to Lilleypics</a></i></div>Amy Lilley Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10907512787759970646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2163278516803757057.post-60766996592392268772016-11-18T13:08:00.002-07:002016-11-18T21:58:36.886-07:00Reflections II 2017, The Calendar<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3Dku4VdKX14/WC9UjUy_8WI/AAAAAAAAIcs/dBQAcCk408ErDP2ILn76A2tl69NHo8XSQCEw/s1600/FullSizeRender%2B%252823%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3Dku4VdKX14/WC9UjUy_8WI/AAAAAAAAIcs/dBQAcCk408ErDP2ILn76A2tl69NHo8XSQCEw/s320/FullSizeRender%2B%252823%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It happened quickly. The inspiration to create a 2017 calendar came upon me, and within a couple of days, it was finished. The kinks had been worked out from the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/384815632/reflections-jewish-calendar?ref=shop_home_active_2">REFLECTIONS, Jewish Calendar</a>, I had some new photos to add, prayed about what scriptures the Lord would have me to use in this critical hour, got back in touch with Jonathan, from <a href="https://www.mixbook.com/?mbt_source=adwords&amp;mbt_medium=cpc&amp;mbt_campaign=Search-Brand-Generic-Exact-US-GP&amp;mbt_adgroup=mixbook&amp;mbt_matchtype=c&amp;mbt_content=100411293280&amp;mbt_keyword={adgroup}&amp;gclid=CjwKEAiA6rrBBRDsrLGM4uTPkWASJADnWZQ4jd7hYnTUr4T6uf-hQtlmrefYCstNLf2_udn0WR1pJBoCInrw_wcB">Mixbook</a>, (his customer service was so excellent, he was an important reason I have called on <a href="https://www.mixbook.com/?mbt_source=adwords&amp;mbt_medium=cpc&amp;mbt_campaign=Search-Brand-Generic-Exact-US-GP&amp;mbt_adgroup=mixbook&amp;mbt_matchtype=c&amp;mbt_content=100411293280&amp;mbt_keyword={adgroup}&amp;gclid=CjwKEAiA6rrBBRDsrLGM4uTPkWASJADnWZQ4jd7hYnTUr4T6uf-hQtlmrefYCstNLf2_udn0WR1pJBoCInrw_wcB">Mixbook</a> a second time, along with the rich quality of the finished product), ordered 1 copy to proof, and I was on my way. I received my copy yesterday, and this is why it is a <i>must </i>when publishing anything, to have that all important, 1 copy. <i>All </i>of the pictures, front and back covers, were 'auto-enhanced'. This is a feature which <a href="https://www.mixbook.com/?mbt_source=adwords&amp;mbt_medium=cpc&amp;mbt_campaign=Search-Brand-Generic-Exact-US-GP&amp;mbt_adgroup=mixbook&amp;mbt_matchtype=c&amp;mbt_content=100411293280&amp;mbt_keyword={adgroup}&amp;gclid=CjwKEAiA6rrBBRDsrLGM4uTPkWASJADnWZQ4jd7hYnTUr4T6uf-hQtlmrefYCstNLf2_udn0WR1pJBoCInrw_wcB">Mixbook</a> offers, but it is one which I <i>do not choose</i>, as I have done all the editing on the photos. Thankfully, I was able to take side by side pics from the Jewish calendar and send them off to Jonathan, along with previous e-mails, confirming that the auto-enhance was not to be applied. I had some minor changes to be made with type size and my back cover statement. Jonathan and I worked everything out, and I placed my order. I am not sure when the calendars will be arriving, probably after Thanksgiving, so I have listed them in my Etsy shop as,<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/479334808/pre-order-reflections-ii-2017-limited?ref=listing-shop-header-0"> 'Pre-order REFLECTIONS II 2017' Limited Edition</a>. So, Psalm 46, and for the month of December, 1 verse from the Book of Isaiah! Whew....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UeSehwaoQrA/WC9Ut3apYoI/AAAAAAAAIcw/Ihh6-Z0FUcclnlUlQymB_LHfeZOS0lbTgCLcB/s1600/IMG_9167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UeSehwaoQrA/WC9Ut3apYoI/AAAAAAAAIcw/Ihh6-Z0FUcclnlUlQymB_LHfeZOS0lbTgCLcB/s320/IMG_9167.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YVs3ZSy52Ss/WC9U2rWp4uI/AAAAAAAAIc0/q3cpGl6kwlYMt8pZAaEhl2fk6B0EhP3OACLcB/s1600/IMG_9174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YVs3ZSy52Ss/WC9U2rWp4uI/AAAAAAAAIc0/q3cpGl6kwlYMt8pZAaEhl2fk6B0EhP3OACLcB/s320/IMG_9174.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QTH2dFoeYI4/WC9U-_LTFzI/AAAAAAAAIc4/wWIuy-YtLzoyYqES9syKMLAutDWr7qQ5wCLcB/s1600/IMG_9175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QTH2dFoeYI4/WC9U-_LTFzI/AAAAAAAAIc4/wWIuy-YtLzoyYqES9syKMLAutDWr7qQ5wCLcB/s320/IMG_9175.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>'God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>&nbsp;God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>&nbsp;Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>&nbsp;He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>&nbsp;Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.'</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Psalm 46</i></div>Amy Lilley Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10907512787759970646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2163278516803757057.post-17742468696842617262016-10-27T15:01:00.001-06:002016-10-27T16:56:53.588-06:00East Coast, This Go Round<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oHUXx6_-JNQ/WBJdBOmIuII/AAAAAAAAIac/dD1_wxjvw5gmc6QaIkNGj_JS9EcS5GxnwCLcB/s1600/IMG_8789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oHUXx6_-JNQ/WBJdBOmIuII/AAAAAAAAIac/dD1_wxjvw5gmc6QaIkNGj_JS9EcS5GxnwCLcB/s400/IMG_8789.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Atlantic, my old Friend...</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">I went, I saw, I conquered. I came back with a mean head cold, I am still processing conversations, hard fought get-togethers with precious friends, how many times I ate Japanese food, having some alone time to see some of my old haunts and an afternoon @ The Met, seeing my Goddaughter, Jennie, star in her first lead role on Broadway as Nettie in 'The Color Purple', (she was beautiful and perfect, see Jennie, if you can!), celebrating my Aunt's 95th birthday in Baltimore, and totally touched that she was totally touched when she saw me, I was a surprise...lots of happy tears shed.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oPzhplT66VQ/WBJdsSj1S2I/AAAAAAAAIak/N1IDmBEDms4py101NINWbTb_gLheXWlrgCLcB/s1600/IMG_8811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oPzhplT66VQ/WBJdsSj1S2I/AAAAAAAAIak/N1IDmBEDms4py101NINWbTb_gLheXWlrgCLcB/s320/IMG_8811.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise looking north from Chelsea and, below, the full moon over the City...so beautiful!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />I stayed with my cousin in Chelsea. She is 88 1/2. Just to give you an idea of her energy, on Friday's, she has 4 exercise classes, in 4 different locations, all before one in the afternoon. I stayed with her from Saturday-Saturday, and every night we would hug, so pleased with ourselves that we still liked one another. It was <i>very sweet. </i>We did so well together. I decided that she lives in the center of the universe, because everything anyone could possibly need, juts out, like spokes on a wheel, from her building. But, that is what a neighborhood is. Definition:<i> a district, especially one forming a community within a town or city; synonyms: district, area, locality, locale, quarter, community; part, region, zone; informal neck of the woods, hood, nabe, stomping ground, stamping ground.&nbsp;</i></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s1RcJ-Ter9k/WBJdi5hEGzI/AAAAAAAAIag/ORrhEySBHRM725PukcC3u83zuqMeKRcVACLcB/s1600/IMG_8812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s1RcJ-Ter9k/WBJdi5hEGzI/AAAAAAAAIag/ORrhEySBHRM725PukcC3u83zuqMeKRcVACLcB/s320/IMG_8812.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g3xYzknbkKw/WBJd80bf8LI/AAAAAAAAIao/t44n6SRGN6gd8xPaOi7017-0JsQjjWApgCLcB/s1600/IMG_8911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g3xYzknbkKw/WBJd80bf8LI/AAAAAAAAIao/t44n6SRGN6gd8xPaOi7017-0JsQjjWApgCLcB/s320/IMG_8911.JPG" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lobby of the Met, fresh flowers, always...so beautiful!</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NW9AvAi62v0/WBJeGiQU8PI/AAAAAAAAIas/0oDzHcGe8WQo0nKKCjyG_-bjZK_b1O3wQCLcB/s1600/IMG_8914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NW9AvAi62v0/WBJeGiQU8PI/AAAAAAAAIas/0oDzHcGe8WQo0nKKCjyG_-bjZK_b1O3wQCLcB/s320/IMG_8914.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jennie, in 'The Color Purple', so beautiful!!!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;">When I went back East last summer, I decided that I simply<i> had </i>to go back at least one time a year. So, when the idea of going to Baltimore was presented to me, I knew it was the right time, and I worked backwards, as Baltimore was the last stop. This was such a different trip than last year. When I said 'hard fought' get-togethers, what I mean is, we <i>are</i> doing this, the arrangements might be last minute, and then change on a dime, there was allot of improvising, texting, and phone calls, but every 'Okay great', made the way for me to spend time over pizza, Japanese, Greek, Vegan, Spanish, and Japanese food again, with people who wanted to see me as much as I wanted to see them, and we all made it work. I <i>loved</i> that with my whole heart. Discussions ranged from getting older, more than once, to hearing about a friends surgery for a large brain aneurysm and the metal which is now in her head, to lovely fellowship and sharing of hearts, firming up old relationships and building on some new ones, and of course, as if no time had passed, (because what G_d does, He does well), with many.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So, this happened. It was a week ago Tuesday. I went to The Met to see the Jerusalem: 1000-1400, 'Every People Under Heaven' exhibit. I went up the grand stairs, made a left, looking down @ the American Wing, hung a right @ the statue, walked down another hall, and there it was. The exhibit. It was a little dark, as there are slides being projected on to the walls. I thought I heard my name, but, really, what are the odds? And then in the next moment, a clear voice calling, 'Auntie Amy!' I turned around and it was Mari Harney (older sister of my Goddaughter, Jennie), working @ the exhibit!! Hand over mouth, other hand in the air, leaning back a little, then ginormous hugs. This visit, this meeting was not scheduled by either of us, but clearly, <i>well appointed</i>. Imagine, in a little corner of a massive museum in a City of 8 million. Just too too good!!!</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DoMAh4kMzNw/WBJfMQUdAsI/AAAAAAAAIaw/xhc79-3fnTcsWBiApxoLg_o0nPC_GQuNACLcB/s1600/IMG_8829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DoMAh4kMzNw/WBJfMQUdAsI/AAAAAAAAIaw/xhc79-3fnTcsWBiApxoLg_o0nPC_GQuNACLcB/s320/IMG_8829.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pot for cooking lentils, brass, 11th century, Caeserea...so beautiful!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Spending a short 24 hours in Baltimore was full, it was joyous. I was with my Cousins and it was perfect. I felt my body telling me that it had had enough, as I began to get emotional about leaving, all guards were way down. I do not know what the future holds. I do know, that New York, the East Coast, will always be home, that I cannot be in 2 places at one time, that coming back to the quiet of Colorado along with <i>all</i> of its gifts is exactly where I am supposed to be, so, in that I rest and recoup from all the running around, eating, talking, loving on my Friends and Family, and receiving equal portions in return. I am so thankful, so grateful, so deeply appreciative. Until the next time New York; you can take the Girl out of the City, but <i>no way</i> can you ever take The City, out of the Girl...but you already knew that...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AmueAL17_J0/WBJhKo9FSrI/AAAAAAAAIbE/BAdtDY84DjUJcHUXA917QkKs4x0fCxdvACLcB/s1600/IMG_8903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AmueAL17_J0/WBJhKo9FSrI/AAAAAAAAIbE/BAdtDY84DjUJcHUXA917QkKs4x0fCxdvACLcB/s400/IMG_8903.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Betsy and Aunt Sue, and below Jennifer helping to blow out candles, joy overflowing, so beautiful!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a0GZSpxeO0k/WBJhQIwSORI/AAAAAAAAIbI/bKbGVnpYkAQ0c3TfysJ2OBmTA0gXnnRfQCLcB/s1600/IMG_8904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a0GZSpxeO0k/WBJhQIwSORI/AAAAAAAAIbI/bKbGVnpYkAQ0c3TfysJ2OBmTA0gXnnRfQCLcB/s320/IMG_8904.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GnMZboKYQ6A/WBJhWk7dDYI/AAAAAAAAIbM/lxB1F6vkaHkrym71_8Fe7MEYmS1zWDIKwCLcB/s1600/IMG_8875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GnMZboKYQ6A/WBJhWk7dDYI/AAAAAAAAIbM/lxB1F6vkaHkrym71_8Fe7MEYmS1zWDIKwCLcB/s400/IMG_8875.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jEb07w6E-Go/WBJhfra7VgI/AAAAAAAAIbY/fnhvOk6pPG03nQfpMq8J4MYaVIruZftqgCEw/s1600/IMG_8855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jEb07w6E-Go/WBJhfra7VgI/AAAAAAAAIbY/fnhvOk6pPG03nQfpMq8J4MYaVIruZftqgCEw/s320/IMG_8855.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Descending into Denver, Rockies in the background, so beautiful!!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">'To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;</div><div style="text-align: center;">A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.'</div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8</div>Amy Lilley Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10907512787759970646noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2163278516803757057.post-45223511998756355272016-09-25T12:29:00.000-06:002016-09-25T19:56:00.995-06:00The Garden, Beginning, Middle and End...<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x1YKBOa0QmE/V-gO1MTFT4I/AAAAAAAAIW0/Pqmm_yDJEQI0T_F3ZmdACIklfYxyvM2ogCLcB/s1600/IMG_8283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x1YKBOa0QmE/V-gO1MTFT4I/AAAAAAAAIW0/Pqmm_yDJEQI0T_F3ZmdACIklfYxyvM2ogCLcB/s400/IMG_8283.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">2 things. Wow, it has been a month since my last post and I did not post anything on the blog about this years garden. To close the gap a bit, the last day of the outdoor pool could not have ended any better given the perfect weather that day, and taking in all the hundreds of laps I clocked in by the end of the season, I was grateful beyond words. As one of the lifeguards said, 'You have just been a swimming machine this summer!'. Best thing I could have heard. So, to back track, to around Memorial Day. I bought a 3 tiered raised garden bed KIT. I had to build it. Seemed simple enough, but, as has been stated here before on many other projects, it was more work than anticipated...and it took a ton of soil. With the help of our neighbors, drilling some drainage holes on the floor board we bought to keep the soil in place, and the brand spanking new palettes we found outside of a shop, whose owners said, 'Please, take them off of our hands!' I was on my way.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sAG7HtTkTbQ/V-gPhWbDgdI/AAAAAAAAIXI/RFzLeJxgNgwq3o9z5ErkG98ZdejUPFbKwCEw/s1600/IMG_7495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sAG7HtTkTbQ/V-gPhWbDgdI/AAAAAAAAIXI/RFzLeJxgNgwq3o9z5ErkG98ZdejUPFbKwCEw/s320/IMG_7495.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zKv5-HBEgsU/V-gPxUaLAKI/AAAAAAAAIXg/qqlgTZri3wE9zdcHAJ3LrTSOUCU0NvwKACEw/s1600/IMG_7494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zKv5-HBEgsU/V-gPxUaLAKI/AAAAAAAAIXg/qqlgTZri3wE9zdcHAJ3LrTSOUCU0NvwKACEw/s320/IMG_7494.JPG" width="276" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;I bought small heirloom tomatoes, white eggplants, green peppers, strawberries, 6 varieties of basil for eating all summer and then to make pesto to take us to next summer, flat leaf parsley, which we have also been enjoying all summer as well, and dill. The strawberries died almost immediately, replaced them with something else (I forget), and it died, then replaced that with cucumbers which had blight, so that little corner never happened.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u_1YW3P1nnA/V-gPVRgb3mI/AAAAAAAAIXI/ibQZYVICimEqqLE0ZlBIAFtZGUXd6sn1QCEw/s1600/IMG_7487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u_1YW3P1nnA/V-gPVRgb3mI/AAAAAAAAIXI/ibQZYVICimEqqLE0ZlBIAFtZGUXd6sn1QCEw/s320/IMG_7487.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">That said, I have never had tomatoes grow so fast and with such strength in their stems. They are still blooming, and I have hundreds of them. The white eggplants were beautiful to watch bloom and grow from a lovely purple flower to a baseball sized eggplant. I cut back 10 of them just yesterday and cooked up some eggplant parm. There are ALLOT of seeds in these small guys, so, they can border on bitter. But, the Boys enjoyed it, along with the fresh basil and pesto made from scratch included in the ingredients. It was a great moment in the kitchen, and I froze 7 healthy portions!! I am in the process of dismantling, the large, beautifully weathered terra cotta pots of basil, making pesto like a machine. Last summer I froze 58 4 oz. containers, and so far, as of today, I have 41. The nights have been cool, so time is of the essence. All in all a great garden, yielding a bounty for us as I harvest the haul. I am a grateful little gardener, still busy busy busy, just like the bees who have graced us with their presence all season....</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t3u5q-YjdQg/V-gP-F8YVDI/AAAAAAAAIXg/CbL4IdzhSwMw87EAKbQkSf0ROrMAfpeQwCEw/s1600/IMG_7500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t3u5q-YjdQg/V-gP-F8YVDI/AAAAAAAAIXg/CbL4IdzhSwMw87EAKbQkSf0ROrMAfpeQwCEw/s320/IMG_7500.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It is hard to imagine what will happen..</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lVoVe8W3QgQ/V-gQqXRtmLI/AAAAAAAAIXg/qukdQVdyJ4sBfWpi6ubOk73Vk_JiTDS6wCEw/s1600/IMG_7843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lVoVe8W3QgQ/V-gQqXRtmLI/AAAAAAAAIXg/qukdQVdyJ4sBfWpi6ubOk73Vk_JiTDS6wCEw/s320/IMG_7843.JPG" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...but in a short amount of time, THIS!!!</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SaecFuAhIjU/V-gQxTk0NUI/AAAAAAAAIXg/qhNWGleE4ekE-Y58UkjreLssRkNW2aDNwCEw/s1600/IMG_7870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SaecFuAhIjU/V-gQxTk0NUI/AAAAAAAAIXg/qhNWGleE4ekE-Y58UkjreLssRkNW2aDNwCEw/s400/IMG_7870.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The whole gift giving plants and herbs...</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XVT66a6Q1wQ/V-gRLKdnUHI/AAAAAAAAIXg/O2qRJ3uOOEIVKRIGuSLbhqSG7MKbNSumACEw/s1600/IMG_7838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XVT66a6Q1wQ/V-gRLKdnUHI/AAAAAAAAIXg/O2qRJ3uOOEIVKRIGuSLbhqSG7MKbNSumACEw/s320/IMG_7838.JPG" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strawberry leaf which never took, but so pretty..</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WLxDzrLa_tc/V-gRUirsl_I/AAAAAAAAIXY/x-TB1jbAFtsL3kHjq5bNXKzwwNawMkuNwCEw/s1600/IMG_7986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WLxDzrLa_tc/V-gRUirsl_I/AAAAAAAAIXY/x-TB1jbAFtsL3kHjq5bNXKzwwNawMkuNwCEw/s320/IMG_7986.JPG" width="261" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White eggplant showing herself...</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MxIyELL8LM0/V-gRl15pAPI/AAAAAAAAIXc/bDUpSPrvX4cHKiCEmqzq69NXs5d58IyNQCEw/s1600/IMG_8154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MxIyELL8LM0/V-gRl15pAPI/AAAAAAAAIXc/bDUpSPrvX4cHKiCEmqzq69NXs5d58IyNQCEw/s320/IMG_8154.JPG" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strong and tall, still blooming...</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZxiJvk7hAU/V-gR3bWKj1I/AAAAAAAAIXk/My9spdOdlRwxrgQh_wfd5SFQPj31vbW6QCEw/s1600/IMG_8539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZxiJvk7hAU/V-gR3bWKj1I/AAAAAAAAIXk/My9spdOdlRwxrgQh_wfd5SFQPj31vbW6QCEw/s320/IMG_8539.JPG" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cut back bouquet of 6 basil varieties for pesto...</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3rmvjeIglEM/V-gSGKeZCJI/AAAAAAAAIXo/2GRHCFA3w50p23q96Ji1AkfpFnZH64HrwCEw/s1600/IMG_8555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3rmvjeIglEM/V-gSGKeZCJI/AAAAAAAAIXo/2GRHCFA3w50p23q96Ji1AkfpFnZH64HrwCEw/s320/IMG_8555.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last but not least, just yesterday, 10 of these babies...more still growing!!!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><div>'Build houses and live in them; and plant gardens and eat their produce.'</div><div>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Jeremiah 29:5<br /><br />Post script: By days end, there are now 51 frozen 4oz. containers of pesto!!!</div></div>Amy Lilley Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10907512787759970646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2163278516803757057.post-91956573835559627832016-08-20T21:38:00.000-06:002016-08-21T11:34:50.799-06:00What I Learned at the Pool This Summer...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HvpqexfFMXM/V7kZZuXs18I/AAAAAAAAIUg/mOdmN75yc9Mg0879WiNNqQIpEj1eo6Q0wCEw/s1600/IMG_9418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HvpqexfFMXM/V7kZZuXs18I/AAAAAAAAIUg/mOdmN75yc9Mg0879WiNNqQIpEj1eo6Q0wCEw/s320/IMG_9418.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">So, it was my first day back at the pool this Summer. June 2. I &nbsp;had &nbsp;great anticipation upon getting &nbsp;back in the water. What would this year look like, I wondered. &nbsp;How many laps would I manage, especially after a long winter. It was a beautiful day. I think I </span>eeked<span style="text-align: justify;"> out 36 laps, &nbsp;which was good. They were&nbsp;</span><span style="text-align: justify;">not done all at once but over the course of the afternoon. 4:15ish rolled around and I decided to &nbsp;head out. As I was leaving, I was met with, what felt like a swarm of yellow bathing caps. I looked around and saw many young teenagers, many. I asked a woman who &nbsp; had &nbsp; been &nbsp; speaking with &nbsp;one &nbsp;of the adults, who were all these kids??? &nbsp;THE SWIM TEAM, she replied. I was in formed that they would be there everyday, like &nbsp;clockwork at &nbsp;4:15PM, stay until 6PM, &nbsp;Monday- Thursday, &nbsp;that &nbsp;they were taking 4 of the 6 lanes, and that the adults would have to 'share'. I left &nbsp;feeling, &nbsp;well, &nbsp;annoyed &nbsp;would &nbsp;be &nbsp;the &nbsp;correct word. I remembered last Summer, &nbsp;at the end of the season, around now, &nbsp;when &nbsp;school &nbsp;started, &nbsp;that THE SWIM TEAM invaded the pool. It/they felt very invasive.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As the evening progressed, and I was processing this information, I started to get mad. The woman I spoke with earlier was very matter of fact...'The adults will have to share 2 lanes!!!'. I lost sleep that night, and first thing the next morning, I called the Corporate Office. This phone call was on the heels of the Stanford swimmer who had been on trial for rape. He was/is the fruit of the 'entitled' sportsperson, be it swimming, football, baseball, golf, soccer, etc. We have seen it in many different venues, college and professional. I explained to the nice man I was speaking with that it seemed rather unfair that people, adults, who work hard, get off of work around 4 or 5pm, who have paid their monthly fees, should find themselves at the pool, looking forward to a quiet, therapeutic swim, only to realize that they would have to share a lane (they are not very wide, and you know, I am tiny, sooooo...) with another adult. Could there be a compromise, maybe the kids could have 3 lanes and the adults 3 lanes. I went on to say to him that they were sending these kids the <i>wrong message!!! </i>We are here, so you have to leave, period. And as they progress in life, to the next swim team or the next sport, we are here, I am here, so you have to leave. <i>Entitled</i>. It is an ugly word. Wrong wrong wrong. (Do not misunderstand me, I am all for organized sports. I grew up playing organized sports.) He told me that I sounded very passionate about swimming and that he would get in touch with aquatic director. I thanked him, wished the SWIM TEAM well, and we said our good-byes.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A few days later, I received a call from the very young sounding aquatic director. I repeated my concerns about sending these kids the <i>wrong message</i>, that it was also wrong that they thought it was okay for two, 200 pound men, or two, 150 pound women to share a lane, after having worked hard all day, etc. I was met with a wall. Seriously, as if I were speaking to a wall. She did her utmost to make my every word invalid, that it was perfectly fine for adults to share lanes. She did not ask me one question about myself. Clearly there was not going to be any sort of compromise. THE SWIM TEAM had the pool.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I had to regroup. THE SWIM TEAM had won the battle. I decided, the best thing for me would be to go earlier in the day, and leave around 4pm. What was interesting as well, that every time I checked in, for about the first 3 or 4 weeks, I was met with a friendly face, which immediately, once my name came up on the screen, changed. It was palpable. I was determined, and frankly, did not care one way or another if there was a red flag next to my name. I simply wanted to swim. Which is exactly what I have done this summer. Hundreds upon hundreds of laps. I remained sunshiny and polite, and I have met some wonderful people at the pool. I have received some unexpected compliments along the way. I have not seen one yellow bathing cap, I have not crossed paths with THE SWIM TEAM since that first day, June 2. My plan worked.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So, in light of what we have just witnessed at the Olympics, with the bad behavior of a few entitled members of THE SWIM TEAM taking over headlines (the Media is a whole other post, which will probably never be written here), this is what I have learned at the pool this summer. I had never witnessed 'entitled' first hand until my short, but somewhat profound encounter with THE SWIM TEAM on June 2. It is up to the ADULTS to teach our children, and the children in our charge, starting at a very young age, that it is NOT OKAY to push anyone aside because <i>you</i> have arrived, that it is NOT OKAY to think that <i>you</i> are better than anyone because <i>you</i> belong to a team, that it is NOT OKAY even if <i>you</i> have won Gold Medals at the Olympics or if <i>you</i> are on the Stanford SWIM TEAM to be <i>anything other</i> than a kind, compassionate, empathetic, human being. I think, I pray, that the children I encountered were young enough, that here is hope that they will not believe the terrible lie and that 'entitled' will never be a part of their vocabulary, even if the word itself is never spoken.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have 2 full weeks left before the outdoor pool closes. I have had a great great time at the pool this summer, and, in a way, I feel very much like I WON THE WAR!!</div>Amy Lilley Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10907512787759970646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2163278516803757057.post-80296242620227141552016-07-31T12:03:00.006-06:002016-07-31T14:36:26.124-06:00What's Old is Made New-ish, DIY!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hrcasj0FNnI/V54gF71F7RI/AAAAAAAAISw/nOLLfAs6Q_shIZrDdfwsMe-jWHdVEJvqQCEw/s1600/IMG_9232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hrcasj0FNnI/V54gF71F7RI/AAAAAAAAISw/nOLLfAs6Q_shIZrDdfwsMe-jWHdVEJvqQCEw/s400/IMG_9232.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The chosen one...</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">I have Mom and Dad's bridge table and chairs. I always remember them being there, which renders them antiques (and, me as well)!!! They have never been recovered or reupholstered and after all this time, they were looking pretty shabby. So, I decided to have a go at it. The thought stayed with me for a while until I actually pulled off the worn material from one of the chairs. It was nasty, just because the chairs are old. The all important question of what to cover them with, also stayed with me for a while. We recently went to the Cherry Creek Art Festival in Denver, where I got allot of great ideas for framing my photos, and that was good. However, as the day went on, we wound up going into a store which carries only handmade wares from around the world. I spotted some beautiful material. I touched it, I stayed with it for a time, and then I realized, I have drawers full of Mom's old tablecloths!! Why spend 100's of dollars for a piece of material when I have my own stash at home. That's when it all kicked in. As soon as we got home, I immediately started rummaging through my drawers and found this one. I love this tablecloth, and it had a hole in it which was un-fixable. I double checked to make sure it did not have napkins to go with it. It did not, so, I was ready to proceed.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uMwl6TTtxrw/V54huGaxcdI/AAAAAAAAITQ/4sqyaYi7yxAhzIk1OHH-Djyx7bPPAtObQCEw/s1600/FullSizeRender%2B%252822%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uMwl6TTtxrw/V54huGaxcdI/AAAAAAAAITQ/4sqyaYi7yxAhzIk1OHH-Djyx7bPPAtObQCEw/s320/FullSizeRender%2B%252822%2529.jpg" width="277" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laundry mark from Ding-Ho laundry...</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">As always, I see the finished product in my head, but, the work is always more than anticipated. This was no different. Just getting the stripped seats unscrewed and off of the chairs was a to-do, as they had not been touched in decades. The answer was easy, 3-In-1 Oil. Once that was done, I laid out the table cloth, then, with a deep breath, took a scissor to this precious material. Interestingly, I found the laundry mark, which was on all of our linens and tablecloths growing up. I will never forget the many many trips to Ding Ho Laundry, on 20th street off of 1st Avenue, picking up carefully wrapped packages of crisp, clean linens. This little piece of material, with the number on it will be saved.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uUZ2XQNGD0g/V54g3h637II/AAAAAAAAIS8/pT3KhGhFKeI6LRnvMSQLmTboRRFw3Dy0gCEw/s1600/FullSizeRender%2B%252818%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uUZ2XQNGD0g/V54g3h637II/AAAAAAAAIS8/pT3KhGhFKeI6LRnvMSQLmTboRRFw3Dy0gCEw/s320/FullSizeRender%2B%252818%2529.jpg" width="205" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tools...</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-feZQEvvystQ/V54hQr9nFqI/AAAAAAAAITE/PkTxZt7UtWYzr27czHi2qaN8jrrU22mdwCEw/s1600/IMG_9234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-feZQEvvystQ/V54hQr9nFqI/AAAAAAAAITE/PkTxZt7UtWYzr27czHi2qaN8jrrU22mdwCEw/s400/IMG_9234.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Work space from above...</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oSVD1YelemQ/V54h76n02xI/AAAAAAAAITc/2U06cLPJQhAXh7igh6Hun2QG_TsXkeGygCEw/s1600/IMG_8037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oSVD1YelemQ/V54h76n02xI/AAAAAAAAITc/2U06cLPJQhAXh7igh6Hun2QG_TsXkeGygCEw/s400/IMG_8037.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before and after...</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BaSjEy7QDBI/V54iFl-eYSI/AAAAAAAAITc/vP4FFhOJa1A455DvefYD6dxpZm6qUeGDACEw/s1600/IMG_8041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BaSjEy7QDBI/V54iFl-eYSI/AAAAAAAAITc/vP4FFhOJa1A455DvefYD6dxpZm6qUeGDACEw/s400/IMG_8041.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before and after...</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qD_2iBh2XDc/V54iViAdx7I/AAAAAAAAITk/yV639D8OJv8SDYSqG4Bep4ffeIWYDjmFwCEw/s1600/IMG_7992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qD_2iBh2XDc/V54iViAdx7I/AAAAAAAAITk/yV639D8OJv8SDYSqG4Bep4ffeIWYDjmFwCEw/s400/IMG_7992.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One singular sensation...</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aJjImcEpbNU/V54imPmRUuI/AAAAAAAAITk/s26sL4PeOM47I9KAEQQXsWD7EPSXmagHwCEw/s1600/FullSizeRender%2B%252819%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aJjImcEpbNU/V54imPmRUuI/AAAAAAAAITk/s26sL4PeOM47I9KAEQQXsWD7EPSXmagHwCEw/s320/FullSizeRender%2B%252819%2529.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Girl...</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">I used the tablecloth itself as a grid, because, well, you see the pics. I carefully cut the batting and 'stuffing'. The wood seats are so thin, but extremely sturdy (they really do not make things the way they used to), I was not sure the upholstery nails I bought would work, I thought they might be just a little too long, but, most thankfully, they worked. The first chair was the hardest to do. I could see that there was no way I could hammer these tiny, sharp nails into the seats without doing permanent damage to my right hand, which was attempting to hold the nails in place. After trial and error, I wound up using one of my jewelry tools to hold the nails and, lo and behold, it worked very well. <i>Hammering, I might add</i> <i>is an excellent way to vent, to express frustration, oh, I don't know, about a few things</i>. I took my time finishing this project. The Art Festival in Denver was the weekend of July 4th, and I completed everything yesterday. I polished the chairs and Scotch-Guarded the newly covered seats. Getting them screwed back on the chairs, was also a to-do, as some of them would not 'take', at first. I was determined, and now all 4 seats are secure! Each chair is a little different, as you can see, but I like that. And of course, The Girl, with her million places to curl up, picked the used work sheet. The chairs have been re-distributed around the house, all of us very pleased with the 'new' look of what was old, made new-ish!!! Do it yourself....</div>Amy Lilley Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10907512787759970646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2163278516803757057.post-8791121244089144332016-07-10T12:11:00.001-06:002016-07-10T12:47:19.469-06:00April/Nisan, 2017/5777, Tremendous Significance<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/384815632/reflections-jewish-calendar?ref=shop_home_active_1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S2xLpXfx4uU/V4J2HEl-qCI/AAAAAAAAIRY/XexgMCS0j7gnI1pWFyGaesL2pauBJFmQQCLcB/s400/photo%2B4%2B%25286%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/384815632/reflections-jewish-calendar?ref=shop_home_active_1">This is the photo I chose for the month of April/Nisan, 2017-5777 for the calendar, 'REFLECTIONS'</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">Given the tragic events of the past few weeks, I have found it impossible to blog. No words of mine could possibly express the horror we have witnessed from such senseless loss of precious lives. I feel at times like, #Icantbreathe, eleven times over. I have been posting on social media, the root meaning of the names of each of the Hebrew months. As the Jewish calendar begins in October, 2016 for the New year of 5777, that is where I too began. I am now up to April/Nisan 2017/5777. I gather the information I post from various web sites and pull the information I feel is most relevant, without boring anyone to tears. One very important thing I learned when we visited Israel many years ago, is that <i>nothing</i>, no placement of a rock to the construction of a building is placed or built without tremendous significance. An example would be, when entering the gates of Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, the signage is 3 dimensional. It was created this way for a purpose. The purpose was and is for birds to build nests within the lettering so that visitors might hear the birds singing as they enter!!! What a stunning idea. It is no different that each of the root meanings for the Hebraic months hold tremendous significance. As I began researching the month of Nisan, I found that it has tremendous significance for today, hence the blog post. I usually end each post with a scripture or a poem, but, today I begin:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"God is our refuge and strength,</div><div style="text-align: center;">a very present help in trouble.</div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,</div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea."</div><div style="text-align: center;">(Psalm 46:1-2)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Passover, occurs in the month of Nisan.&nbsp;Passover is really a month long celebration. Over and over it is referred to as the "month of spring", the "month of redemption," the month of Nisan, and so on. The word Nisan (נִיסָן) itself might come from either the word nitzan (נִצָּן), meaning "bud" (Song 2:12), or the word nissim (נִסִּים) meaning "miracles," both of which suggest physical and spiritual resurrection in our lives. Others think the word comes from the verb nus (נוּס), meaning "to flee," both in relation to Israel's flight from Egypt and Egypt's flight from Israel (i.e., when the pursuing Egyptian cavalry fled (נָסִים) before the sea closed upon them (Exod. 14:25, 27). We also see this usage in the verse: "The wicked flee (נָסוּ) when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion" (Prov. 28:1). The devil's power is found in the lie. &nbsp;If he can make you afraid, you will not think clearly. Establishing your faith in the truth will embolden you to deal with the lies and distortions that are intended to enslave you in fear. The truth will set you free.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In light of the conditions of this present evil world, we cry out for the Messiah to return now! We want His deliverance. Most politicians, by definition, exhibit the Pharaoh-like lust to control and exploit people. &nbsp;They are called "the lords of the darkness of this world." This is the nature of the corruption of those who crave power over others. Today, so many people live in fear because they believe the propaganda of the "princes of this age." &nbsp;We must always keep in mind that reality centers on the LORD God of Israel, not in appearances and the rhetoric of political or media figures. Melo khol ha'aretz kevodo: מְלא כָל־הָאָרֶץ כְּבוֹדו, "the whole earth is filled with His glory (Isa. 6:3). And the LORD God of Israel cares about people's liberation from deception and tyranny. The story of the Exodus is His everlasting rebuke to all the world's dictators and should cause every politician to soberly assess their fate... &nbsp;The time is coming when His judgment will fall upon all the "kings of the earth who take counsel against the LORD and against His Annointed" (Psalm 2:2).&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">'The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.' &nbsp;Ecclesiastes 1:9</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is also noted that, Nisan is the first month of Spring. When it arrives, something about the increasing light, the warmer air, and the sprouting vegetation, may enhance our feeling that life is a <i>gift and a blessing</i>. Deeper within this instinctual feeling is the recognition that life is given to us whether we ‘deserve’ it or not. This is a deep level of humility, and it brings forth a tremendous sense of gratitude. During the eight days of Passover, as we eat matzah, the bread of humility, we should strive to internalize this idea. Life is a <i>miraculous gift</i> descending from above. It cannot be earned, only humbly received. According to one opinion, Nisan is when human life was created."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;And I end with the scripture on the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/384815632/reflections-jewish-calendar?ref=shop_home_active_1">calendar </a>for April/Nisan:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">'Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, And a branch from his roots will bear fruit.'</div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Isaiah 11:1</div>Amy Lilley Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10907512787759970646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2163278516803757057.post-52518211288088657582016-06-22T11:24:00.003-06:002016-06-22T15:12:12.442-06:00Reviews!!!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/384815632/reflections-jewish-calendar?ref=shop_home_active_1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tuJl5xDY99E/V2rFCpZEooI/AAAAAAAAIQI/5QduF_XWs6YsezfipqN1XFzGJhNr2NlbgCLcB/s400/IMG_7241.jpeg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/384815632/reflections-jewish-calendar?ref=shop_home_active_1">This is the photo I chose for December/Kislev-Tevet, 2016/5777</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;">So, the 'REFLECTIONS' calendar is up and running. It has been really interesting thus far, putting the work out there, and then just waiting to see what happens. I have received numerous orders through my Etsy shop, </span><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/384815632/reflections-jewish-calendar?ref=shop_home_active_1" style="text-align: justify;">Lilleypics</a><span style="text-align: justify;">. One even shipped to Israel! &nbsp;I have received some touching feedback, like having a review written up in the NY Times, but I am the only one who knows. Here are a few of the comments:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">'Ours arrived yesterday to much fanfare. Full-tilt viewing party to admire the calendar page by beautiful page. So great to see all these images nice and big and well printed. Looking forward to having them up and marking the months ahead. Lovely!' &nbsp; Dan Friedman, California</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">'Amy, My husband and I celebrated our 50th anniversary today. We sat out on the patio early this AM and I told him about you and your photography. He wanted to see. So, I showed him the calendar. He and I absolutely LOVE your photos. You are gifted and God certainly put these frames in front of you for you (like no one else) to capture. Thanks for sharing.' &nbsp;Melinda Rose, Texas</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Museum quality.' &nbsp;Dee Dee Woodman, Colorado</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">'It's every bit as beautiful as your blog described. &nbsp;The photographs are extraordinary, the concept is unique, and the quality is superb. &nbsp;You are so creative...' &nbsp;New York City</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">'Your Jewish calendar is beautiful. Absolutely exquisite and a labor of love.' Susan Benesch, Rhode Island</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">''Intoxicating, I am overwhelmed with joy for you!' &nbsp;Suzanne Levinger, Florida</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">'Look what just fell from Heaven!' Neil Van Wright, New York City</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There are a few more months until the calendar begins in October. I have plenty in in the wings, awaiting their new homes...to be continued...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">'The scepter will not depart from Judah,</div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp; &nbsp; nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,</div><div style="text-align: center;">until he to whom it belong shall come</div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp; &nbsp; and the obedience of the nations shall be his.'</div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Genesis 49:10</div>Amy Lilley Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10907512787759970646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2163278516803757057.post-74189148813512096372016-06-01T10:46:00.000-06:002016-06-02T22:16:00.426-06:00'Reflections', Jewish Calendar<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u_gtPTfLp6w/V03ic5KnYrI/AAAAAAAAIKo/Wd7BUKiTrKQa39rp-S5dHe2K0kc6KShPgCLcB/s1600/IMG_7515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u_gtPTfLp6w/V03ic5KnYrI/AAAAAAAAIKo/Wd7BUKiTrKQa39rp-S5dHe2K0kc6KShPgCLcB/s400/IMG_7515.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front Cover</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kA1MjB_xvfU/V03iiNLaxfI/AAAAAAAAIKs/_o18fpBzY_IC-ZJnvlmaYGVi9JakhaKVgCLcB/s1600/IMG_7508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kA1MjB_xvfU/V03iiNLaxfI/AAAAAAAAIKs/_o18fpBzY_IC-ZJnvlmaYGVi9JakhaKVgCLcB/s400/IMG_7508.JPG" width="395" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back Cover</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OxXtO38kREU/V03irWvRKrI/AAAAAAAAIKw/xsg_hyP688YpiNLHv-_zrFZVnM7yxKdygCLcB/s1600/IMG_7472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OxXtO38kREU/V03irWvRKrI/AAAAAAAAIKw/xsg_hyP688YpiNLHv-_zrFZVnM7yxKdygCLcB/s400/IMG_7472.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">October-January, 2016-2017/5777</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3Irlf32J-i8/V03iyC_UGxI/AAAAAAAAIK0/MpYH0pqFqso8AjFl4znikzlHvCCXerCDACLcB/s1600/IMG_7473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3Irlf32J-i8/V03iyC_UGxI/AAAAAAAAIK0/MpYH0pqFqso8AjFl4znikzlHvCCXerCDACLcB/s400/IMG_7473.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">February-May, 2017/5777&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uL3U4qzWh4k/V03i6DLALwI/AAAAAAAAILE/dhGE6GNc3IYe79jCYSMGW1HK5j0tuLougCKgB/s1600/IMG_7475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uL3U4qzWh4k/V03i6DLALwI/AAAAAAAAILE/dhGE6GNc3IYe79jCYSMGW1HK5j0tuLougCKgB/s400/IMG_7475.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">June-September, 2017/5777</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">The discussion began last Summer. Suggestions were coming in. It's time for a book Amy. I want to buy some of your 'Reflection' pictures, are they being sold as cards? You need a 'thing', like choosing a major for college. &nbsp;I batted a few ideas around with my friend<a href="http://www.pencilmoonstudio.com/"> Cornelius</a>. He is an award winning children's book illustrator, and knows a thing or 2 about publishing. Helpful, <i>very helpful</i>, but, I still did not know what to do with the pictures to bump them up a few notches from a $4 card. Then, one day in January, like a golden nugget spilling into my spirit, the inspiration came. Make a calendar using the 'Reflection' series of photos, <i>and </i>use the Jewish calendar year. Well, everything inside of me leaped for joy, knowing that this was exactly what I was to do with the pictures. That very day, Cornelius happened to call. 'I've got it, I've got it, I've got it!!!', I said! His response was priceless. I shared the inspiration with a handful of people, and each time, the response was priceless, in the best possible way. I saw the finished calendar in my head, but ohmygoodness, I had quite the journey to get there.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The calendar begins in October 2016/5776, which marks the Jewish New Year, or<a href="http://www.chabad.org/holidays/JewishNewYear/template_cdo/aid/4762/jewish/What-Is-Rosh-Hashanah.htm"> Rosh Hashanah</a> which literally means, 'The head of the year.' The first full day of the New Year is October 3, 2016/5777. I began by researching Friday night sunset times, which, with candle lighting, marks the beginning of Shabbat, or Sabbath. Initially, I included 21 U.S. cities and Jerusalem. When it came time to transcribe that information onto the computer, it was impossible to include all those cities, given the layout I had chosen. I wound up transcribing the sunset times for Boston, Denver, Los Angeles, New York, Miami and Jerusalem. Included in the calendar are Jewish Holidays and holidays celebrated in the U.S. and around the globe. All of the Jewish Holidays can be Googled, for those of you not familiar with their meaning(s). 'Transcribing the information onto the computer', being operative words, was where the bulk of the challenges took place.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have never done a full blown project on the computer. That said, I found a number of web sites which offer, 'make your own calendar'. Everything seemed complicated, really complicated, and I did not know where to begin. I had the pieces of the puzzle, but I was lost. I finally found a wonderful company called <a href="http://www.mixbook.com/?feature_site_wide_coupon_on_homepage=true&amp;utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mixbook.com%2Fphoto-calendars%2Fall%2Freflections-13628903%3Fvk%3DoCJaQ7XMqy">Mixbook</a>, and I was on my way. (I have to give them a <i>huge </i>shout out. From the beginning of my communication with them, their customer service was outstanding, and remained so, right up until the calendars were delivered to my front door last week). So many decisions had to be made. Which layout to use for the front and back covers. Which 'Reflection' pictures best represented each month, what scriptures was I to share and where was I to place them? I did not even know how to line things up. But, with prayer, <i>allot of prayer</i>, quietness, patience and perseverance, the calendar started taking on it's own life.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I started working on the calendar in February and I received the first copy, to proof, 2 weeks ago. I was overwhelmed by the quality of the reproduction of the photos, the quality of the card stock used. I say card stock, because it is beyond paper, it is archival. <a href="http://www.mixbook.com/">Mixbook</a>&nbsp;did an outstanding job and I am so deeply grateful. I will be calling on them again. Yes, there are a couple of things which I would tweak if I do another calendar next year, but, off she goes! I am selling the 'Reflections' calendar in my Etsy shop, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/384815632/reflections-jewish-calendar?ref=shop_home_active_1">Lilleypics</a>. (click on '<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/384815632/reflections-jewish-calendar?ref=shop_home_active_1">Lilleypics</a>). It is 12" x 12", and spiral bound. The photos are 10" x 10" and would look beautiful in a frame! This calendar is for <i>everyone!!!!!</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On the back of the calendar, I said, "It is my prayer, that those of you who see this calendar are inspired, and blessed, knowing that G_d is the painter, as this collection of photographs would not and could not be, without His mighty hand, G_d is the Creator.'</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">'In your seed, all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you obeyed my voice.'</div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Genesis 22:18</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Amy Lilley Designshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10907512787759970646noreply@blogger.com0